2-stanza Vande Mataram is height of appeasement, says Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

Mangalore Today News Network

Ballari, Sep 11, 2026: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday accused the Congress of indulging in “appeasement politics” and criticised the party over its decision to limit the rendition of Vande Mataram to two stanzas instead of all six.

Addressing a convention at the Municipal Ground in Ballari marking the conclusion of the BJP’s 10-day ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra, Joshi alleged that the Congress had restricted the song to two stanzas to appease Muslims. He also criticised Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi over his reported remarks describing Islam as “superior to all other religions.”

Joshi accused the Congress-led state government of neglecting development works while engaging in corruption. Referring to the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam, he claimed that several Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, had benefited from funds allegedly misappropriated in the case.

Taking a swipe at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who recently completed 100 days in office, Joshi alleged that the government had stopped releasing funds for social security pensions benefiting widows, senior citizens and other beneficiaries.

He further alleged that grants to state transport corporations had been withheld and accused the government of failing to improve roads and drinking water supply in rural areas.

“The government has stopped grants to the transport corporations. It has failed to undertake road construction and ensure drinking water supply to rural areas. The financial resources of city municipal corporations are being looted by directing them to bear the cost of setting up Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas,” Joshi said.

The convention passed several resolutions, including a demand to recover ₹187 crore allegedly misappropriated from the Maharshi Valmiki Corporation and take action against those responsible.

Other demands included declaring drought-affected taluks based on ground realities, effective drought management and immediate compensation, waiving agricultural loans up to ₹5 lakh, and providing at least 10 hours of three-phase electricity supply every day.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka claimed that two more ministers from Shivakumar’s Cabinet, including Priyank Kharge, would “fall” in the coming days.

Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa alleged that the Congress government had discontinued several programmes introduced during his tenure, including the Bhagyalaxmi scheme.

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and former ministers B. Sriramulu and G. Janardhana Reddy were among those present.