Shimla: The BJP Legislature Party in Himachal Pradesh said it would carry its protest over the alleged non-rendition of the national song "Vande Mataram" from the Assembly precincts to a public venue on Shimla Ridge on Sunday.
Demand for Assembly footage, protest outside Speaker's office
The opposition party also staged a dharna on the floor outside the office of Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania in the Vidhan Sabha here on Saturday, urging the Speaker to allow the House to function and seeking the video recording of the inaugural day proceedings on August 21.
Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur said the video clip of the Assembly session was their right and that the party would pursue it through available legal and constitutional routes if necessary. He said the BJP would request the Vidhan Sabha Secretary for the recording and, if needed, approach the Raj Bhavan and the high court.
"It is our right to seek the video clip and, if need be, BJP will even knock on the doors of the Raj Bhavan as well as the high court to get it. The CM and the Congress are trying to create a false impression that BJP insulted Vande Mataram, which is totally unacceptable," said Thakur.
Thakur also alleged that the ruling party raised slogans inside the House and then left as if staging a walkout, which he described as "very strange and unheard of" and said there had been no provocation from BJP members.
Planned activities on Ridge and implications for Assembly functioning
The BJP Legislature Party announced it would sing the national song before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Shimla Ridge on Sunday. The party framed this as taking the issue from the Assembly to the streets to demonstrate its position publicly.
According to the party's account, BJP members had met the Speaker to request that the video of the House proceedings be played in the Assembly to ascertain the veracity of Congress allegations that the BJP had insulted the national song. Thakur said the manner in which the inaugural session was conducted suggested the Chief Minister, ministers and ruling MLAs were not interested in running the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for a second day.
The matter has added to tensions in the early days of the Assembly session and could have procedural and legal consequences if the opposition pursues the record and, subsequently, judicial remedies.
- What BJP seeks: The video recording of the Assembly's inaugural day (August 21).
- Immediate action: Singing of "Vande Mataram" before Mahatma Gandhi's statue on Shimla Ridge; dharna outside the Speaker's office inside Vidhan Sabha.
- Next steps indicated: Possible approaches to Raj Bhavan and the High Court if the party does not obtain the recording.
Context and local significance
The move to hold a public demonstration on Shimla Ridge places a politically charged event at one of the city's most prominent civic spaces. The Ridge, adjacent to the colonial-era Mall and home to civic monuments, is commonly used for public gatherings and events; a protest there is likely to draw local residents and media attention.
The BJP’s demand for the official video is aimed at establishing a factual record of what occurred during the inaugural proceedings. If the recording is produced and publicly shown in the House, it may either defuse the dispute or deepen the confrontation depending on what it reveals. Legal recourse through the Raj Bhavan or the high court would extend the contest beyond Assembly procedures into constitutional and judicial arenas.
| Action | Location | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Dharna outside Speaker's office | Vidhan Sabha, Shimla | Saturday (reported) |
| Public singing of "Vande Mataram" | Statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Shimla Ridge | Sunday (planned) |
| Request for Assembly video | Vidhan Sabha Secretary | Under process (BJP demand) |
Separately, the source report noted that Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma has given notice for a breach of privilege against some officials, alleging harassment in connection with a case registered against him while the Assembly session was on. This adds another procedural matter before the Speaker.
The Speaker's office and the state government had not been quoted directly in the report; the BJP has publicly articulated its position and indicated readiness to pursue legal remedies. How the Speaker and the ruling party respond to the demand for the video — and whether the recording is produced for viewing in the House — will shape the next phase of this dispute.
