Congress accuses BJP of politicizing ‘Vande Mataram’

Leaders of the Indian National Congress have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicizing the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’. The controversy follows claims made by Amit Shah regarding the song.

Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja rejected Shah’s assertions and criticized the RSS, alleging that the organization did not hoist the Indian tricolor at its Nagpur headquarters for 50 years after independence. Other Congress representatives, including Imran Masood and Pawan Kumar Bansal, emphasized the historical legacy of figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel.

Bansal noted that in 1936, it was decided to limit the song to two stanzas as it served as a war cry to inspire people during the independence movement. Congress members further alleged that the BJP uses themes of patriotism and religion to create controversy and divert attention from core governance issues.