Bandi Sanjay Plans Mass Vande Mataram Recital at Charminar Bhagyalakshmi Temple

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday announced that the BJP will organise a mass recital of Vande Mataram at the Bhagyalakshmi Temple near Charminar in Hyderabad, expecting lakhs of people to participate.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP state office, Sanjay challenged AIMIM leaders to stop the programme "if they had the courage," stating that the national song would reverberate across the Old City. He accused AIMIM of previously boycotting the song in the Assembly with Congress support, and warned that insulting Vande Mataram could attract a three-year prison term and a fine.

Sanjay also criticised the state government over the issuance of smart ration cards, questioning why photographs of the Chief Minister and state ministers were included while Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image was omitted. He stated that the Union government finances free rice distribution to nearly two crore people across 57 lakh ration cards in Telangana, asking why the Prime Minister was excluded from publicity for Central schemes.

The Union Minister alleged that the Congress administration is continuing the previous BRS government's practice of taking credit for Central initiatives. He contested claims of providing free rice to 3.43 crore people in a state with an estimated population of 3.5 crore, asking whether the scheme was improperly covering the state's 30 lakh income-tax payers.

Sanjay further targeted the government over land administration under Section 22A of the Registration Act, alleging that 95 lakh acres out of Telangana's 2.77 crore total acres have been placed on the prohibited list. He noted that genuine landholders continue to face difficulties at revenue offices trying to clear their properties, while also pointing to pending fee reimbursement dues and rising public debt.