The special discussion that began in the Lok Sabha on Monday (December 8) on 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ turned into a sharp political confrontation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly and aggressively raising questions on the history of the Congress, its decisions and its ideology. Referring in detail to the background of Nehru, Jinnah, Emergency and Partition, PM Modi alleged that Congress had many times betrayed the national anthem under the pressure of appeasement politics. Congress was incensed by his remarks and the tone of the debate between the two sides quickly turned into political bitterness.
Prime Minister Modi said that the journey of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ has been associated with the ups and downs of the Indian freedom struggle, mass movements and the spirit of national unity. He said that when this song completed 50 years, the country was tied in the chains of slavery; And when 100 years were completed, the Constitution was suppressed in the “repressive chapter” of the Emergency. He alleged that this was the same time when those who raised patriotic voices were jailed and the spirit of ‘Vande Mataram’ was suppressed by political intolerance. Modi said that during the partition of Bengal, this slogan had become the biggest force of the Indian people against the British, so much so that the British government had even imposed punishment on singing it.
PM Modi coupled his statement with criticism of the Congress leadership and its historic decisions. He claimed that when Jinnah protested against ‘Vande Mataram’ in 1937, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in a letter to Subhash Chandra Bose, said that the song could incite Muslims and its use should be reviewed. According to Modi, Congress, under pressure from the League, tore the national anthem into pieces and presented it to the country as a compromise in the name of social harmony. He described this as a “betrayal of the national soul” and said that this inclination later led to painful consequences like partition.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the cultural and spiritual nature of ‘Vande Mataram’ and said that this composition of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay had become the consciousness of the freedom movement. Referring to the lines of dedication to the motherland expressed in the song, he said that it was not just a political slogan but a “sacred call to free Mother India from the shackles”. He also cited Mahatma Gandhi’s 1905 comment, in which Gandhi had described it as the national song of that time, and questioned why the song was later dragged into controversies.
After PM Modi’s sharp allegations, Congress’s reaction was equally strong. Congress’s deputy leader in the House, Gaurav Gogoi, accused the Prime Minister of giving political color to the discussion. He said that Congress was the first to chant ‘Vande Mataram’ in the freedom struggle and BJP’s “political ancestors” had no contribution in the freedom struggle. Gogoi said that no matter how many allegations the BJP makes, the contribution of Pandit Nehru cannot be diminished.
The special discussion is likely to continue further amid allegations and counter-allegations from both sides, but Monday’s debate made it clear that this historic discussion that started on ‘Vande Mataram’ has once again brought to the fore the rough layers of political history.
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