Kerala Congress leader NS Nusoor has firmly rejected claims by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the patriotic song Gana Geetham, asserting that its lyrics celebrating diverse Indian icons make it impossible to label as an RSS composition. "This song is about patriotism. How can a song that names Bhagat Singh, Ramakrishna, Narayana Guru, and Jhansi ki Rani be an RSS song?" Nisoor questioned, highlighting the track's inclusive references to revolutionary figures and social reformers from across India's ideological spectrum.
The controversy erupted amid accusations from opposition parties that the RSS was attempting to appropriate cultural symbols for political gain. Gana Geetham, a popular motivational song often played at public events, has been at the centre of heated debates, with critics arguing that its broad nationalist themes transcend any single organisation's ownership. Nisoor's intervention underscores the Congress view that such songs belong to the nation's collective heritage rather than any ideological group.
Nisoor, a prominent voice in Kerala's political landscape, emphasised the song's role in fostering unity and patriotism without sectarian bias. By invoking Bhagat Singh's revolutionary zeal, Ramakrishna's spiritual legacy, Narayana Guru's social reforms, and Jhansi ki Rani's valor, the lyrics embody a pluralistic vision of India that aligns with secular ideals, he argued.
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As the row intensifies ahead of local elections, Nisoor's statement has rallied opposition support, reinforcing calls to preserve cultural artefacts from partisan appropriation. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between the RSS-BJP and Congress-led fronts in Kerala over symbols of national pride.
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