New Delhi: Newly-appointed Maharashtra cultural affairs minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Sunday (August 14) said all officials of the state government will have to say ‘Vande Mataram’ instead of hello while receiving phone calls in offices.
“We are entering the 76th year of Independence. We are celebrating Amrit Mahotsav (of Independence). Hence I want officials to say ‘Vande Mataram’ over the phone instead of hello,” he said.
He said a formal government order will be out by August 18. “I want all government officials in the state to say ‘Vande Mataram’ (while receiving phones) till January 26 next year,” he said.
This was one of Mungantiwar’s very first decisions after being given charge of the ministry. Chief minister Eknath Shinde, who came to power with the BJP’s support after breaking away from the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray. The BJP has got several important portfolios in the new government.
(With PTI inputs)
