Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over a controversy surrounding the rendition of Vande Mataram at the party’s Independence Day programme, directly targeting Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and accusing the party of showing disrespect towards the national song.
Speaking at a public gathering in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh, Shah alleged that Sonia Gandhi had asked the Congress president to stop the rendition while Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Independence Day. He described the alleged incident as deeply objectionable and said the Congress should be ashamed of its conduct.
Amit Shah Launches Strong Attack on Sonia Gandhi
Shah said the alleged incident had been witnessed by people across the country through television and social media. He questioned how anyone could contemplate stopping Vande Mataram before its complete rendition.
Addressing Sonia Gandhi, Shah said the people of the country were watching and argued that such an act could not be ignored. He further demanded that the Congress apologise to the people of India and to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote Vande Mataram.
The Home Minister also accused Congress of having forgotten the historical importance of Vande Mataram because of what he described as vote-bank politics.
Vande Mataram Controversy Erupts After Congress Event
The controversy began after visuals from the Congress headquarters’ Independence Day programme circulated publicly. BJP leaders interpreted the visuals as showing senior Congress leaders speaking among themselves while Vande Mataram was being recited.
The BJP subsequently alleged that Sonia Gandhi objected to the full rendition of the national song. BJP leader Amit Malviya claimed that Gandhi became agitated after the initial portion was sung and sought to have the rendition stopped. He also alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared to signal that it should end.
The allegations quickly developed into a political confrontation, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of insulting a song associated with India’s freedom struggle.
Congress Rejects BJP’s Allegations
The Congress has rejected the BJP’s interpretation of the incident and denied that Sonia Gandhi attempted to stop Vande Mataram.
According to the Congress, Gandhi’s actions were related to ensuring that the arrangements surrounding the rendition were handled properly and were not an attempt to prevent the national song from being completed. The party has therefore disputed the political narrative being built around the video.
The contrasting claims from the BJP and Congress have turned the Independence Day programme into another flashpoint between the two major political parties.
Shah Recalls Vande Mataram’s Role in Freedom Struggle
Shah also invoked the historical significance of Vande Mataram while attacking the Congress.
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He said the song had played an important role during India’s freedom struggle and recalled that many Indians faced imprisonment, police action and violence while participating in the independence movement.
The Home Minister argued that Vande Mataram was not merely a ceremonial song but had become an important symbol of the national movement. He used this historical context to strengthen his criticism of the Congress over the controversy.
Shah also referred to the celebration of India’s 80th Independence Day and noted that Vande Mataram had been sung during Independence Day programmes across the country, including at the Red Fort.
Political Row Intensifies Over National Song
The controversy comes amid an already intense political battle between the BJP and Congress. Shah’s remarks are likely to further sharpen the confrontation, particularly because the dispute involves a national song and an Independence Day event.
The BJP has framed the episode as an issue of national respect, while Congress has maintained that the allegations against its leadership are politically motivated and based on an incorrect interpretation of the visuals.
The issue has also expanded beyond verbal exchanges. BJP leaders on Sunday lodged a formal complaint against Sonia Gandhi at a police station in Karnataka, further escalating the controversy surrounding the Congress headquarters event.
BJP Demands Apology From Congress
Shah’s latest remarks have placed renewed pressure on the Congress to respond to the allegations. He called for an apology from the party and Sonia Gandhi, arguing that the national song should not have been subjected to political controversy.
The Congress, however, has continued to reject the allegation that its leadership deliberately interrupted or disrespected Vande Mataram.
With both sides standing firmly by their respective positions, the dispute is expected to remain a major political talking point in the days ahead. What began with visuals from an Independence Day programme has now become a wider confrontation over nationalism, political conduct and the historical legacy of Vande Mataram.
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