Interestingly at the rally Modi said: "Chanting Vande Mataram is like a life force. Doing this is also a responsibility to ensure the peace, prosperity and security of the country. But some people have a problem with this. They should have their deposits forfeited." It was not clear to whom this jibe was directed: either to Rahul or to Nitish.

Nitish not responding to Bharat Mata ki jai and Vande Matram has been quite intriguing. While Nitish is all praise for his nationalism catchphrase and other slogans, he consciously keeps himself away from the two slogans. BY resorting to this tactics he probably tries to identify himself with the Muslim aspirations. It is a known fact that most the Muslims are loath to chant Vande Matram.

Clarifying the reason the Mahagathbandhan candidate from Darbhanga, Abdul Bari Siddiqui said” I have no objections to chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai"” Reciting Vande Mataram is against his beliefs. "Anyone who believes in one God will not ever recite Vande Mataram," said Mr Siddiqui.

Modi, while addressing the rally had castigated the RJD candidate from Darbhanga Abdul Bari Siddiqui, the former finance minister in Nitish government for his statement that he could not recite the national song as it went against his religious beliefs.

In fact it is this fear of losing the Muslim support that has forced Nitish to refrain from chanting the slogans. The JD(U) leadership believes that doing so would scare and alienate the Muslims.

Nevertheless officially the reason being cited is these slogans are not part of the composite programme of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Clarifying the stand of the party the nation al general secretary K C Tyagi said; "These slogans have been raised at BJP and Jan Sangh events. We don't have objections to slogans raised at Sangh and BJP rallies but we want to say that they are not part of the composite programme of the NDA". “The singing of Vande Mataram, the national song, has been a divisive debate that has been revived during the election campaign in which the ruling BJP's key themes have been nationalism and national security.”

Tyagi further said;” we don't have problem with Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram, but it is not proper to impose these slogans on people. Significantly the JD(U) leadership does not believe these slogans can be considered a symbol of nationalism.

A couple of days back the Mahagathbandhan leader Tejashvi twitted a few lines of the famous Bollywood song “'Haye Haye Yeh Majboori ,Yeh Mausam aur e doori; sung by Lata Mangeshkar for the movie 'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan'. He had reason to Twitt.

Though JD(U) downplayed reports of any differences within the NDA, the leaders resent the high handed tactics of Modi in imposing his wish on the JD(U). They hold that the JD-U is a separate party with its own agenda and ideology. The party differs with the BJP on several issues including the Constitution’s Articles 370 and 35 A and the Citizenship Bill.

Question is being raised in the political circle “Why is Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wary of saying ‘Vande mataram”. It is surprising to watch that of late Modi and BJP has preferred to drop Vande matram slogan in Bihar. Recently at a election rally in West Bengal recently, Modi urged people to not vote for those who do not chant ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ and ‘Vande mataram’. But in Bihar, Modi adopted a different yardstick. This exposes the double standard of the BJP on the issue of “Vande mataram” and “Bharat mata ki jai”. (IPA Service)