The controversy over National Anthem and its lyrics refuses to slow down. Haryana health minister Anil Vij on Saturday made a strange demand saying that the word "Adhinayak" should be removed from the National Anthem of India. This remark comes a day after Congress MP Ripun Bora on Friday had moved a private member’s resolution in Rajya Sabha, seeking amendment of the National Anthem and replacing the word ‘Sindh’ with ‘North East India’. Haryana health minister Anil Vij has been in controversy previously as well owing to his remarks and comments on various issues.

While talking to news agency ANI, the Haryana minister said that the word Adhinayak should be removed from the National Anthem. Vij had also supported the private member’s resolution moved in Parliament that seek to replace the word ‘Sindh’ with ‘Northeast’.

The lawmaker from Assam, Congress MP Ripun Bora had demanded on Friday that the word 'Sindh' be removed from the anthem, as it refers to a state which became part of Pakistan after the bifurcation of India in 1947. In its place, the Congress veteran demanded, the word 'Uttar Parv' should be inserted which would refer to the states located in India's northeastern periphery.

Demands have been made in the past for removal of the word Sindh in the past too. In March 2016, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant had made a demand that the word Sindh be removed from the anthem as it not part of an enemy state- Pakistan.

There have also been appeals made by various groups and people to let the anthem be as it is while suggesting that Rabindranath Tagore's work not be disturbed. The national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' was composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 when the geographical limitation and make-up of India was quite different from what it is today. The sudden demands for amending the national anthem has come as a surprise for many even in the political circles.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2018 09:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).