Lucknow, Feb. 17 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday made Vande Mataram the central plank of his attack on the Opposition while replying to the debate on the governor's address in the Uttar Pradesh legislative council (Vidhan Parishad), accusing the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress of opposing national symbols and India's cultural identity.

He also said statements supporting anti-national elements or showing disrespect to national symbols are nothing less than sedition.

Referring to 150 years of Vande Mataram, Adityanath said, "I ask the Samajwadi Party and the Congress why they oppose it. You live in India but hesitate to stand for the national song and anthem. This will not be accepted. This is an insult to the Constituti...