Kerala omits 'Vande Mataram' on I-Day despite govt's directive to play all 6 stanzas

Kerala CM VD Satheesan hoisted the national flag in Thiruvananthapuram on India's 80th Independence Day. However, the 'Vande Mataram' song was omitted from the state programme despite the Centre's recommendation to include its full six-stanza version. The omission comes amid a controversy over the Centre's directions on the rendition of the National Song during the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.