Tezzbuzz Desk- Amidst the ongoing political debate in the country regarding Vande Mataram, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has made a scathing attack on BJP. While talking to the media in Goa, Kharge presented his party's stand regarding the national anthem. He said that Congress has not started any new tradition, but has taken forward the tradition that has been going on for about 90 years.
Kharge said that he has sung the same 'Vande Mataram' which Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru used to sing. He also mentioned Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that if Vande Mataram sung by him was wrong, then Gandhi and Vajpayee were also wrong.
'If it is a crime then file a case against Gandhi and Nehru also'
Mallikarjun Kharge said in his statement that if singing Vande Mataram in that form is being considered a crime, then a case should also be registered against Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He said that these leaders had also sung Vande Mataram in the same way. Taking the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kharge said that he had also sung the same Vande Mataram. In such a situation, if questions are being raised about his song, then BJP should clarify its stand on this.
Taking aim at BJP, the Congress President said that no rules can be decided in the country just on the orders of BJP. He said that today there is a government, but tomorrow another government may come to power and take a different decision as per its own.
'Congress continued the 90 year old tradition'
Kharge said that the tradition of Congress regarding Vande Mataram is not of today. According to him, the party has continued the system that has been in place for almost 90 years. He said that BJP should understand that many decisions regarding the country's national song and its related traditions were taken at a time when today's political parties did not even exist in their present form. Therefore, no tradition can be declared wrong merely on the basis of political statement.
Kharge said that it is not necessary that whatever a political party says should become the rule of the country. He raised the question that if there is a change in power in the future and another government takes a different decision, will it also be immediately accepted as a rule.
How did the Vande Mataram controversy start?
The current controversy regarding Vande Mataram started after August 15. BJP accused Congress of insulting the national anthem. BJP alleged that during a program the singing of Vande Mataram was stopped before it was completed. The name of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi also came up in this controversy. BJP alleged that Sonia Gandhi interrupted the singing of Vande Mataram by giving a gesture. After this, BJP leaders raised questions accusing Congress of insulting the national anthem.
The matter became more political when at a Congress rally held in Goa, only the first two verses of Vande Mataram were sung instead of all six verses. BJP also made this an issue and targeted Congress.
Kharge rejected BJP's allegations
Responding to the controversy, Kharge rejected BJP's allegations and said that Congress has not deliberately broken any tradition. Through his statement, he tried to make it clear that the way the party has been singing Vande Mataram is not a new system.
After Kharge's statement, the political debate regarding Vande Mataram is likely to intensify further. On one hand, BJP is linking it with respect for the national anthem, while Congress is linking it with old tradition and political consensus. In such a situation, the rhetoric between the two parties on this issue may increase further in the coming days.