Jaipur, August 17: A political controversy has erupted in Rajasthan following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about Vande Mataram during his visit to Chittorgarh. Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has responded sharply, questioning the BJP’s historical role in the freedom struggle.
While addressing a gathering in Chittorgarh, Shah criticized Congress for an incident related to Vande Mataram that occurred during a recent Independence Day event at the party’s Delhi headquarters. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi signaled Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to stop the song while it was being sung. Shah accused Congress of appeasement and vote bank politics, demanding an apology for its attempts to erase Vande Mataram from India’s freedom struggle history.
In a social media post reacting to Shah’s comments, Gehlot stated that historians would find the Home Minister’s claims about Vande Mataram “ridiculous.” He argued that the BJP had no role in the song’s historical significance during the freedom movement and accused them of attempting to rewrite history after coming to power. He emphasized that speeches or proposed laws cannot alter historical records.
Gehlot also asserted that the BJP is now invoking Vande Mataram to obscure its alleged absence from key phases of the freedom struggle. He highlighted Congress’s longstanding connection to Vande Mataram, noting that Rabindranath Tagore sang the song at the Indian National Congress’s Calcutta session in 1896. The song later became a staple at Congress sessions and a vital rallying cry for freedom fighters facing British oppression.
He referenced the 1937 decision to adopt an inclusive version of the song, arguing that it aimed to make it acceptable to all religious communities in India. Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later included in his novel Anandamath, has become one of the most powerful symbols of India’s freedom movement.
However, the later verses of the song became controversial due to religious connotations. Following concerns about the acceptance of the complete composition among various religious communities after the 1937 provincial elections, Congress adopted the first two verses for public use.
On January 24, 1950, the President of the Constituent Assembly, Rajendra Prasad, announced that Jana Gana Mana would be India’s national anthem, while Vande Mataram would be designated as the national song, receiving comparable respect.
The ongoing disagreement over the song reflects a broader political divide. The BJP has often presented the 1937 decision as an example of Congress’s appeasement policy, while Congress has described it as an inclusive step aimed at maintaining national unity.
The recent debate between Amit Shah and Ashok Gehlot extends beyond the song itself, reigniting a long-standing political controversy over how India’s freedom struggle should be remembered and who can claim its legacy.
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