The Congress party has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the central government over the controversy surrounding ‘Vande Mataram’. The Congress party stated that the song being questioned today has been sung by many prominent leaders since the country’s independence movement. From Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, everyone has publicly sung ‘Vande Mataram’.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, responding to the uproar over the Vande Mataram controversy, said that if the BJP objects to my version of Vande Mataram, then it should first file a case against the leaders who endorsed this version of ‘Vande Mataram’ many years ago. Kharge said that if singing “Vande Mataram” is considered wrong, then action should also be taken against the leaders who first sang it.
Reacting to the BJP and the central government’s opposition to singing the older version of Vande Mataram, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Congress had already announced what the national song would be before they were even born. The same “Vande Mataram” was sung by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, and Sardar Patel. The party further stated that Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while serving as Prime Minister, and Narendra Modi, while serving as Chief Minister, also sang “Vande Mataram.” The Congress leader said that they too sang the same song. Therefore, if this is considered a crime, then a case should also be filed against Gandhi, Nehru, and Sardar Patel.
The Congress President also clarified that the national song cannot be changed based on the likes or dislikes of any government. The party stated that “Vande Mataram” has been sung as part of a tradition that has been followed in the country for years. The Congress party, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said that not every decision in the country can be made according to their wishes. The party said that whatever Modi and Shah want will not always happen in the country. The national anthem cannot be changed to suit the government.
The Congress party’s entire argument rests on the fact that ‘Vande Mataram’ has long been associated with the country’s freedom movement and national consciousness. The party says that the controversy being created now over singing it is tantamount to ignoring a long-standing tradition. The Congress party said that it has not adopted any new path, but has followed the long-standing tradition in the country. The party also questioned the central government as to why the rules and approach regarding the national anthem should change with the change of government.