Pune: Shiv Sena corporator Pramod Bhangire, who moved a proposal to make singing of 'Vande Mataram' mandatory in all the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run schools, was not able to recite the national song when he was requested to.
Close on the heels of a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) directive making 'Vande Mataram' compulsory in all civic schools, Bhangire move the proposal before the standing committee stating that the national song inspired the freedom movement. Hence, it should be sung in all civic schools. He also proposed that a photo of Shivaji Maharaj should be put up in all PMC schools.
When Sakal Times contacted Bhangire and asked him the motive behind the proposal, he said singing of Vande Mataram is a good culture. It will have a positive impact on students.
However, when Sakal Times asked him to recite Vande Mataram, he started making excuses and avoided singing it. Bhangire said he would call back. When he called back and muttered a few words from the first stanza of Vande Mataram. Later, he said he would again call back.
After a few minutes, he called back and started singing Vande Mataram but after finishing the first stanza, he stopped. When asked why he stopped, he said the song was over. But when it was brought to his notice that there are five stanzas in the song, he feigned ignorance about it. However, he could not sing after the first stanza.
It will be interesting to see how the MIM and the elected members belonging to the minority community would react to this proposal.
