Rahul Gandhi, who is in Karnataka currently to campaign for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections, reportedly asked the singing of the National Song to be cut short as he was in a hurry. As shown in a video shared by News channel News 9, the Congress President is seen pointing to his watch and asking for the national song to be finished soon.
#KarnatakaKurukshetra: #RaGaInsultsVandeMataram, directs #KCVenugopal to cut short the national song during a public rally in #DakshinaKannada. pic.twitter.com/7a6wDQMTs9
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) April 27, 2018
In the video, Rahul Gandhi is seen directing his party colleague and MP KC Venugopal to cut short the singing of Vande Mataram as he has no time, pointing to his watch. He is also heard asking Venugopal to ask the singers to sing only one line. Venugopal is then seen directing the singers accordingly and then urging Rahul Gandhi to stand up for the National Song just as CM Siddaramaiah is seen walking on to stand near him.
According to reports, blame games have already started with the Congress denying the incident and calling it fake while BJP hitting back that the video was shared by a news channel and BJP has nothing to do with it.
Social Media is abuzz with reactions from people on the video.
Rahul Gandhi directs to cut Vande Mataram to a single line during a public rally in Karnataka ..now this is why we call Him “Sahzada” ..His sense of entitlement is appalling..thinks this country is family property..can at his wish amend the National Song? https://t.co/aqQHP7CRpn
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) April 27, 2018
The organisers should have tried Justin Bieber instead of ‘Vande Mataram’. Wrong choice of music for @RahulGandhi rally. #KarnatakaElection2018 https://t.co/vl5NFnaitr
— Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) April 27, 2018
Part Time Desh Bhakt @RahulGandhi asks to cut short VANDE MATARAM showing his watch! Why do you even need to play it RaGa? BTW, Isn’t KC Venugopal a rape accused? Solar Scam Saritha Nair fame!! pic.twitter.com/jquvZo00os
— Ethirajan Srinivasan (@Ethirajans) April 27, 2018
The Karnataka BJP’s official Twitter handle has condemned Rahul’s Gandhi’s alleged disregard for the National Song.
In 1937, Nehru dropped last 3 stanzas of the Vande Mataram just to pacify Jinnah who said the song irks the Muslims
Today, RG asked to cut it to just one line, reminding us of INC’s total disregard for the song
Do we need more reasons for Cong Muktha Bharath? Shame on you, RG. pic.twitter.com/aPtcreNPuO
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 27, 2018
The video is claimed to be from a rally in Bantwal, Dakshina Kannada district where the Congress President addressed a public gathering today.