Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram is India’s chance to restore the song’s pride. He praised Bankim Chandra Chatterjee who wrote the song in November 1875 — it quickly became a rallying cry for freedom fighters.
PM Modi also flayed the Congress for undermining the national song. The PM said the party did “tukde tukde” of Vande Mataram.
He said former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had apprehensions that it might provoke Muslims.
In his fiery speech, PM Modi highlighted the role of the Muslim League in 1937. He said they opposed the song, but Congress probed it instead of defending it.
Additionally, he condemned the Emergency period. He noted that when Vande Mataram turned 100, India faced a “black period” as patriots were imprisoned.
According to reports, the Parliament witnessed a fervent debate reflecting both reverence for the song and political contention over its history.
Meanwhile, the Opposition’s presence was limited, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra skipping the session, leaving MP Gaurav Gogoi to lead their side of the discussion.
As chants of “shame, shame” reportedly erupted in Lok Sabha, PM Modi said “some forces carried out vishwas ghaat” (betrayal) of the national song in the last century.
“It is our duty to tell our next generations who did it. Muslim League (pre-Independence) led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, in 1937, carried out a drive against Vande Mataram. But the Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru, rather than opposing them, started probing Vande Mataram instead.”
“Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to Subhash Chandra Bose after Jinnah’s opposition to Vande Mataram, stating that he had read the background of Vande Mataram and thought it might provoke and irritate Muslims. He added that they would examine the use of Vande Mataram, and that too in Bankim Chandra’s Bengal,” he said.
The PM also slammed Congress for Emergency and said that the Constitution choked when the national song completed 100 years.
“… When Vande Mataram completed 50 years, India was under British rule. When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, India was in the clutches of Emergency… At that time, the patriots were imprisoned. When the song that inspired our freedom movement, unfortunately, India was witnessing a black period…. 150 years of Vande Mataram is an opportunity to reinstate that pride and that great part of our past… This song inspired us to attain freedom in 1947…”
“Now, at 150 years, it is a good opportunity to restore the glory of ‘Vande Mataram’ which won us freedom in 1947,” the Prime Minister reportedly said.
‘Conspicuously Absent’
The Parliament had set aside 10 hours for a special discussion on Vande Mataram in both Houses as the national song completes 150 years. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was expected to lead the discussion for the Opposition.
However, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra skipped the discussion. MP Gaurav Gogoi led the discussion for the Opposition after PM Modi addressed the Lok Sabha.
BJP leader CR Kesavan attacked Rahul Gandhi for not attending the discussion and called it a disrespect to the national song.
“When PM @narendramodiji paid exemplary tribute to Vande Mataram and our brave freedom fighters in Parliament today, LOP Rahul Gandhi was conspicuously absent, showing his utter disrespect for the patriotic Vande Matram.”
Before the session, Rahul Gandhi had indicated that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would deliver a speech. “Listen to Priyanka’s speech,” he reportedly said ahead of the Vande Mataram debate in Parliament.
The discussion is part of the 150th anniversary celebration of Vande Mataram. The initiative aims to build a strong movement that reconnects citizens with the song’s original revolutionary spirit. The discussion began with PM Modi speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to speak in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
This special discussion came a month after a political row broke out when the PM accused the Congress of dropping important stanzas of Vande Mataram during the 1937 session of the party in Faizabad.
According to him, the grand old party’s decisions “sowed the seeds of Partition” and “dissected the national song into pieces.”
While speaking on Monday, PM Modi once again attacked the Congress and said the party did injustice to the national song. PM Modi said “some forces carried out vishwas ghaat” (betrayal) of the national song in the last century.
“It is our duty to tell our next generations who did it. Muslim League (pre-Independence) led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, in 1937, carried out a drive against Vande Mataram. But the Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru, rather than opposing them, started probing Vande Mataram instead.”
“Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to Subhash Chandra Bose after Jinnah’s opposition to Vande Mataram, stating that he had read the background of Vande Mataram and thought it might provoke and irritate Muslims. He added that they would examine the use of Vande Mataram, and that too in Bankim Chandra’s Bengal,” he was quoted as saying.
The political debate on this will continue to rage on. But what was meant to be a celebration of 150 years of Vande Mataram became a moment of reflection, as differing political perspectives added intensity to the occasion.
Also Read: Gujarat School Notice Board declares Hindutva as national religion and Vande Matram as national anthem https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-school-notice-board-declares-hindutva-as-national-religion-and-vande-matram-as-national-anthem/
