by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Oct 10: Vande Mataram, which inspired the freedom fighters of the country, should become the National Anthem, opined Rajiv Dixit, National Convenor of Hind Swaraj Abhiyan.

Speaking after receiving the 'Mahatma' award at a function organised under the auspices of Navajyothi Forum of Arts at Veena Seshanna Bhavan here on Sunday, he said that Vande Mataram written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee contributed a lot to strengthen the freedom struggle. It had all the potential to replace Janaganamana.... as National Anthem, Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not participate in the centenary celebrations of Vande Mataram, thus proving that they have turned agents of US. The pity was, Vande Mataram was not sung in the Parliament from 1947 to 1997, lamented Dixit.

Referring to the Government's propaganda that consumption of non-iodised salt would result in developing goitre, Dixit reiterated that it was actually otherwise and he criticised the publicity of cola drinks of MNCs.

Musicians Lakshmi Nagaraj, Indu Nagaraj, Bharathanatyam exponent R. Vishwadeep and Mandolin player M. Rakshit were felicitated. Forum President Vikram Kumar Jain was present.