Can’t we invite the Vice-President for Onam just because there are Vande Mataram protocols, asks Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan

Dismissing the controversy over the rendition of all the six stanzas of Vande Mataram at recent events, including the Onam Week pageantry flag-off and the Kerala University Sports Day, Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said that the State government is bound to follow Central protocol in events where the President, Vice-President or the Prime Minister are present.

Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (September 2, 2026), he said that the Congress and the State government had its own stand regarding Vande Mataram, which was evident at the Independence Day celebrations during which only two stanzas were sung.

“Just because such protocols are there, shouldn’t we invite the Vice-President for Onam. Let there be no doubt that the President, Vice-President and the Prime Minister will continue to be invited at the State government’s events,” he said.

Police action on students

When asked about the police lathicharge on a Students’ Federation of India (SFI) protest against the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram during the Sports Day celebrations organised by the Kerala University on Monday (September 1, 2026) and the injuries sustained by activists, including women, he said that as per the police report the injuries were sustained while scaling the police barricade.

“Why did they organise that protest? The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] is using these students to divert attention from the many political issues that the party is facing. The protesters wilfully attempted to create trouble,” alleged Mr. Satheesan.

On ‘waylaying’ of Chief Minister

On the recent incident in which the Chief Minister’s convoy was allegedly blocked by Anil Kumar, aka Chenthi Anil, member of the District Congress Committee, Mr. Satheesan said that though he was invited earlier for the Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti celebrations planned at Chenthi, he had decided not to attend the event as it was being organised by someone with a criminal background.

“No one blocked my convoy. When I saw a group of Congress workers from the area, I got down from the car. But when I got down, this individual spoke in an indecent manner. I returned to my vehicle to avoid any tense situations in the area. I am not acquainted with him personally. I had visited his house earlier, when his wife, a former councillor, passed away,” he said.