Times of India

Mangalore, Sep 4: Terming the Vande Mataram controversy as ‘unfortunate’, Bajrang Dal State convenor Mahendra Kumar has said that the issue indicates pseudo patriotism.

He told reporters here on Sunday that Bajrang Dal has taken the issue seriously and would spread the spirit of the song at the grass root level throughout the State.

The state unit of Bajrang Dal has called all its district and taluk units to organise the ‘centenary celebrations of Vande Mataram’ on September 7 by conducting rallies in the state by singing the national song.

Outlining the activities chalked out for Datta Jayanti, Mahendra Kumar said wearing of Datta Mala will take place on October 2 in all the districts and the members will converge at the shrine at Baba Budanagiri on October 8. Over 30,000 Bajrang Dal activists will take part in the Jayanthi, he added.

Stating that the outfit, an affiliate of the Sangh Parivar, was gaining strength by the day, he asserted that the formation of splinter groups like Rama Sena had not made any dent on its image.

Briefing about the Vande Mataram centenary celebrations in the city, zonal convenor of Bajrang Dal Rajagopal Rai said that a bike rally will be organised to mark the occasion and the song will be sung at eight locations around the city. The rally will traverse through Lighthouse Hill, Kankanady grounds, Pandeshwar, State Bank, Urva Market before culminating at the Vishwa Hindu Parishat office at PVS Junction, he added.