Srinagar, Sept. 10 -- J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday hit back at the Congress over its objection to the full rendition of Vande Mataram, asking whether the party wanted Kashmiris to be put in jail for failing to stand during the national song.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said the issue was no longer about political preference as the full rendition of Vande Mataram had become a statutory obligation.
"Either they (Congress) should have stopped this in Parliament. But the law has been made," Omar said.
He said official functions attended by constitutional authorities would necessarily include the national anthem and, under the new requirement, the full stanzas of Vande Mataram.
"Now, the function in which there are...