Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Tuesday, 18 August extended his support to the Assam government's proposed salary deduction rules for state employees who neglect ageing parents or enter a second marriage without legally dissolving the first. The endorsement follows a public statement by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who outlined the twin proposals as part of a broader push to enforce social accountability among government staff.

What the Assam Government Has Proposed

Under the plan outlined by Chief Minister Sarma, a government employee in Assam could face a 10 per cent salary deduction if found to be neglecting their parents. A steeper cut of 20 per cent is proposed for employees who enter a second marriage while still legally wed to their first spouse. The proposals, if enacted, would mark an unusual use of public-service pay rules to enforce domestic and moral obligations.

What VHP's 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,' Kumar said.

On the question of second marriages, Kumar added: '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.'

VHP on Congress and Vande Mataram Row

Kumar also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Indian National Congress (Congress) singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at an event in Goa. He alleged the party was pursuing a minority-appeasement agenda at the cost of national sentiment.

'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,' he said. Kumar also questioned why senior Congress leaders had issued statements after a Delhi event claiming they sing the full song, if there was no objection to doing so. He alleged the party had adopted a 'Tukde-Tukde gang mentality' and said the act of not singing the complete song was 'both an insult to the nation and a violation of the law.'

Congress's Position

The controversy intensified after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over an alleged attempt to halt the singing of Vande Mataram midway at an Independence Day event. In response, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sang the national song at the Goa Congress convention on Monday. However, reports indicate that Kharge and other Congress leaders sang only the first two stanzas before the convention began.

Broader Context

The Assam salary-cut proposals are part of a pattern of state-level social legislation that has drawn both applause and scrutiny. Critics argue that using pay as a lever to regulate personal conduct — however well-intentioned — raises questions about enforceability, privacy, and the role of the state in domestic affairs. The VHP's swift endorsement signals that the proposals have traction within Hindu nationalist circles. Whether the Assam government formalises the rules through legislation or executive order remains to be seen.