Bengaluru, August 20: A clash has erupted between the Congress and BJP in Karnataka over the Congress Working Committee’s decision to sing only the first two verses of ‘Vande Mataram.’ While Congress leaders welcomed this decision, the BJP accused the party of disrespecting the nation’s culture and its freedom struggle.
Karnataka Congress President B.K. Hariprasad addressed the media on Thursday, expressing support for the committee’s resolution. He stated that Congress will only sing the first two verses of ‘Vande Mataram.’ He challenged BJP leaders, suggesting that if they consider themselves patriots, they should sing the national anthem at RSS branches.
Hariprasad emphasized, “No matter what they do, we will sing only two verses of ‘Vande Mataram.’ They can send us to jail or hang us; we are ready. We are not cowards like the BJP.”
He argued that when Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote ‘Vande Mataram’ in 1875, it originally contained only two verses. He accused the BJP of politicizing the song and dismissed any notion of appeasement in Congress’s stance.
Further, he mocked BJP leaders for praising actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, questioning whether they would accept her song as the national anthem in Parliament.
Opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly, Arvind Bellad, criticized Congress’s position, claiming it demonstrates a disconnect between the party and patriotism. He asserted that Congress has failed to respect the culture of the country.
Bellad stated that ‘Vande Mataram’ has historically inspired youth and freedom fighters during the struggle for independence. He accused Congress of ignoring its own legacy.
He further claimed that if Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party, and the Working Committee are unwilling to sing the entire ‘Vande Mataram,’ it indicates their lack of concern for India and its culture.
Bellad concluded that Congress’s perspective on national and cultural issues is one of the reasons voters have rejected the party in the past.
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