Rajnath Singh Criticizes Congress for Marginalizing Vande Mataram in Parliament Address

New Delhi:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a powerful address today criticizing the Congress for "fragmentation" of the national song Vande Mataram, which he attributed to "appeasement politics" dating back to Jawaharlal Nehru's era. He emphasized that "Restoring the glory of Vande Mataram is the need of the hour and also a demand of morality."

During the Lok Sabha discussion commemorating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Singh stated that "justice that should have been done to Vande Mataram did not happen" and pointed out the disparity in treatment between the national anthem and the national song.

While the National Anthem secured its place in national consciousness, the National Song was "marginalised." Singh asserted that this "injustice to Vande Mataram was not an isolated incident, but a beginning to the appeasement politics by Congress... This was not an injustice to a song, but to the people of independent India."

Singh described Vande Mataram as "not mere words but emotions, poem, pulse and a philosophy." He noted that it functioned as a mantra not only within India but also for Indians residing abroad.

Providing historical context, he mentioned that in 1912, when Gopal Krishna Gokhale arrived in South Africa, he was welcomed with Vande Mataram slogans. He added that Shahid Bhagat Singh and Shahid Chandrashekhar Azad's letters began with Vande Mataram, and it constituted Madanlal Dhingra's final words.

"It is not just a song but the essence of nationalism," Singh emphasized.

"Vande Mataram is complete in itself. But attempts were made to make it incomplete. Every time, however, it has remained the immortal song of our nation, and it will remain so," the minister declared.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also leveled accusations about Congress attempting to fragment Vande Mataram.

PM Modi, participating in the Lok Sabha discussion, accused Congress of insulting the national song and surrendering to the Muslim League. "The Congress compromised on Vande Mataram and surrendered before the Muslim League. Nehru did a 'tukde-tukde' of Vande Mataram," he stated.

Singh concluded by saying that under PM Modi's leadership, the country will commemorate the 150 years of Vande Mataram with the respect and status it deserves.