Chittorgarh. BJP has intensified its attack on Congress on the issue of Vande Mataram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted Congress and Sonia Gandhi at an event in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. At the same time, in Delhi, BJP's national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari cornered the country's oldest party by taking the name of Pakistan.
In Chittorgarh, Amit Shah said that look at their (Congress's) shamelessness. During Vande Mataram, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi asked the Congress President to stop singing it. We all just kept watching on TV. Home Minister Shah said that Sonia ji, 140 crore people are watching you. After this, Amit Shah termed the alleged attempt to stop Vande Mataram as a sin and said that the people of the country will never forgive. He demanded that Sonia Gandhi should apologize to the countrymen in this matter. Listen, what else did Union Home Minister Amit Shah say?
#WATCH | Chittorgarh, Rajasthan | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “Look at their (Congress's) shamelessness. The anthem Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress Party headquarters. During the anthem, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi told the Congress President to stop… pic.twitter.com/HSbiWGf1La
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2026
At the same time, on the Vande Mataram controversy, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that whenever Congress rallies or supporters raised slogans of Pakistan Zindabad, such restlessness or anger was never seen under his leadership. BJP spokesperson said that Sonia Gandhi was not just angry or upset. He reacted as if a crime had been committed. Pradeep Bhandari said that their (Congress leaders) hearts do not beat for the country. Instead they beat for marginal forces.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Vande Mataram recitation at Congress HQ row, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says, “… When Congress Party rallies or supporters raised slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad,' their leadership was never seen displaying such distress or outrage… Sonia… pic.twitter.com/AoIJx3AIhK
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2026
Actually, Saturday was Independence Day. On every Independence Day, Vande Mataram is sung after the flag hoisting in the Congress office. Now the government has made it mandatory to sing the entire Vande Mataram. While Vande Mataram was being sung, Sonia Gandhi was seen saying something to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. After this Kharge called the Congress Seva Dal leader and asked him. BJP is alleging that Sonia Gandhi asked him to stop singing beyond two paragraphs of Vande Mataram. At the same time, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that Sonia Gandhi was asking to bring a chair for party president Kharge.