Chandigarh, August 21: Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal has targeted the central government regarding the Vande Mataram and ‘One Day, One University’ initiatives. He stated that the BJP is attempting to create controversy after 90 years to divert attention from its failures. Bansal accused the government of passing bills amid parliamentary chaos to distract the public and impose its ideology in universities.
Bansal remarked, “For 90 years, these two verses have been sung. Over the years, every Chief Minister, Governor, and Prime Minister from the BJP has sung them in the same way. Now, after 90 years, the BJP is trying to stir up a controversy. They want to divert attention from their failures. Meanwhile, they passed a new bill (Prevention of Insult to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026) amid chaos in Parliament.”
He further explained the significance of the verses, noting that they were written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his book ‘Anandamath’ around 150 years ago. The song was publicly sung at the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta (now Kolkata) on December 28, 1896. Since then, the verses have been sung in various lengths.
Bansal highlighted that during the freedom struggle, the Congress Working Committee decided in 1936 that the first two verses, which reflect the nation’s glory, were sufficient and did not involve any religious connotation. He emphasized that the additional four verses could be interpreted differently, potentially favoring one religion over others. He stated, “Our country is secular, and all religions should be treated equally.”
He criticized the government for creating a negative atmosphere without justification, claiming it undermines patriotism. He asserted that while the government can implement its programs, the Congress will continue to sing the two verses it has sung for the past 90 years without imposing any religious ideology on others.
Regarding the ‘One Day, One University’ initiative, Bansal accused the BJP of attempting to place its supporters in educational institutions. He stressed the need to keep educational centers free from party ideologies. If the BJP wishes to engage with youth, they should do so through their own organizations, such as the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).
Bansal concluded by condemning the misuse of university infrastructure for political purposes, referencing recent events at Punjab University and protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He suggested that the government is trying to divert attention from its shortcomings by stirring up controversies.
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