New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Tuesday welcomed Assam government’s plans of imposing restrictions on the salaries of government staffers over two counts – neglect of the ageing parents and second marriage without divorcing the first wife.

The remarks came after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 10 percent salary of a government employee in Assam could be deducted if they neglect their parents. He also said that entering into a second marriage while the first wife is still alive could result in a 20 per cent salary deduction.

Speaking to IANS, Alok Kumar said, “I welcome both of these steps because caring for one’s parents is not merely a legal obligation but a moral, social and spiritual responsibility. If anyone fails to fulfil this duty, society should penalise them, and the government must also establish measures to ensure it.”

“Similarly, in this era of gender equality, having two wives is in no way justified. The entire world today respects the principle of one husband and one wife. Violating this through multiple marriages or arbitrarily divorcing by uttering ‘talaq’ over three months without providing a reason or approaching a court are practices against which society must fight. That is why I fully support the statement made by Himanta Biswa Sarma,” he said.

Reacting to the Congress singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at an event in Goa, Kumar alleged that the party was trying to appease minorities.

“This is the mentality of the Congress. In its effort to appease minorities, it often crosses all boundaries. The complete song ‘Vande Mataram’ served as an inspiration during India’s freedom struggle. In it, we see knowledge, prosperity and strength in Mother India, which is precisely what the remaining stanzas of the song express,” he said.

“So why should anyone object to it? If there was an objection, why did Jairam Ramesh and others issue a statement after the Delhi event claiming that they sing the full song?” he asked.

Kumar alleged that the Congress had adopted a “Tukde-Tukde gang mentality” and prioritised its political interests over national unity and integrity.

“Their act of not singing the complete song is both an insult to the nation and a violation of the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, amid the BJP criticism of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over an alleged attempt to halt the singing of Vande Mataram midway during an Independence Day event, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sang the national song in Goa on Monday.

However, Kharge and other Congress leaders sang only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram before the start of Goa Congress convention.

–IANS

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