BJP Slams Congress Over 'Vande Mataram' Controversy, Accuses Party of Compromising National Interests for Vote-Bank Politics

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the Indian National Congress (INC), accusing it of compromising national interests and providing ideological support to naxalism. Senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday alleged that Congress was indulging in vote-bank politics and behaving with arrogance towards the country's great national song, 'Vande Mataram'.

Prasad claimed that following an embarrassing event at the Congress headquarters on August 15, where Sonia Gandhi appeared to be opposing the recitation of the entire 'Vande Mataram', Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had said that only two stanzas were sung at a party event in Goa as well. The BJP leader questioned the mindset of the entire Congress party, saying if it indulges in such acts, it should stop its arrogance and claim to be the sole custodian of India's freedom movement.

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Underlining the significance of 'Vande Mataram' as one of the major songs of India's freedom struggle, Prasad highlighted that the Congress had entered into a pact with the Muslim League in 1936-37. He claimed that this alliance led to pressure from the Muslim League, which resulted in only two stanzas being sung at the time, as the remaining portions were deemed to hurt their religious sentiments.

Prasad also referenced Dr Rajendra Prasad's declaration in the Constituent Assembly meeting on January 24, 1950, that 'Jana Gana Mana' would be the National Anthem and 'Vande Mataram', the national song. He noted that this provision was introduced under a Congress government and enacted as the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act in 1971.