The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Uphold the Spirit of the Constitution
The Government of India has issued an order giving precedence to the National Song over the National Anthem, which does not reflect the spirit of the Constitution.
The Constitution of India clearly states in Article 51A(a) that it is the duty of every citizen to respect the National Flag and the National Anthem. After thorough deliberation, the Constituent Assembly adopted the statement made by President Rajendra Prasad concerning the National Song, whose two stanzas only would be sung. Through its recent order, the government seeks to include the remaining four stanzas, which the Constituent Assembly felt did not resonate the secular character of the Indian Republic.
The BJP-led Union government is attempting to create an unnecessary controversy concerning the National Song and the National Anthem with ulterior motives. The BJP government should not be allowed to play with such historic cultural symbols.
We demand the government to uphold the spirit of the Constitution and immediately withdraw this order.