After the issues of tricolour and Veer Savarkar, the Bharatiya Janata Party has stumbled upon another 'anti-national' issue of 'deletion' of word 'Gujarat' from the national anthem in State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) textbooks in Kerala which it plans to raise in a big way.

The saffron party utilised the issue to train its guns at Congress, demanding explanation from its leadership as it was heading the ruling coalition in Kerala, and sought apology from the state government and action against those responsible for the 'deletion'.

"For two consecutive years, the Kerala government has omitted mention of 'Gujarat' from the national anthem printed in school textbooks," BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu told a press conference.

He circulated copies of a page of 'Kerala Reader Mathematics - Standard IX' book of Kerala government prepared by the SCERT to substantiate his allegation.

"It is not an isolated case but is a part of a definite vilification campaign, which has reached such a perverse level where they can even distort the national anthem," Naidu said. He added a message is being sent out that even 'nationalism is not sacrosanct'.

Linking the issue with Uma Bharti case of hoisting tricolor and removal of Savarkar's quotations from Andaman Cellular jail, he attacked the Congress and Indian Union Muslim League.

He termed the development as 'shocking, objectionable and anti-national' and vowed to protest against it.