Trinamool Congress has written a letter to the President on India demanding the dismissal of the Rajasthan Governor for showing disrespect to the National Anthem of India.
Trinamool Congress MP and Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy has written to President Pranab Mukherjee against the Rajasthan Governor’s statement that had demanded the word “adhinayak“ be removed from the national anthem as he said that it was used by composer Rabindranath Tagore “to appease the British”.
The Trinamool Congress MP pointed out the governor’s statement violated the Constitution that he is supposed to uphold. Trinamool plans to take up the issue in the monsoon session of Parliament.
In his letter, the Trinamool Congress MP said that the Governor holds a constitutional post and according to the Article 159 of the Constitution, he is bound to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of India. The Article 51 (A) of the Constitution says to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national Flag and the National Anthem. The Rajasthan Governor has violated both the Articles. Mr Roy said.
In his letter to the President, Mr Roy said: “It is common knowledge that a hate campaign was orchestrated by vested interested groups against the song `Jana Gana Mana‘ since 1911 when it was first written and poet Rabindranath Tagore had to explain the meaning and purport of the song by writing letters articles in Bengali periodicals like Bichitra on 20.11.1937 and Purbasha on 29.2.1939.”
Mr Roy recalled that Mahatma Gandhi, however, had paid rich tributes to the song in `Harijan’ magazine on May 19, 1946, saying it was not only an anthem but a prayer song of the nation.
The matter was informed to the party Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee and on her instruction, a letter was sent to the President. Acopy of the letter was also sent to the Union Home Minister.
In Delhi, Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party Leader in Rajya Sabha and Chief National Spokesperson of the party Derek O’Brien has held a press conference in this issue and it was decided that the matter will be raised in the Monsoon session of the Parliament.