New Delhi, August 21: The political controversy surrounding ‘Vande Mataram‘ has intensified. In Mumbai, BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay accused Congress of disrespecting the national anthem and engaging in appeasement politics. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania retaliated by accusing the BJP of chanting slogans during the national anthem in the Assembly. In Pune, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe responded to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s allegations, questioning the historical political stance of the BJP and the Hindu Mahasabha.
Sanjay Upadhyay raised concerns about Congress’s decision regarding ‘Vande Mataram’. He alleged that during a Congress event, leader Sonia Gandhi attempted to interrupt the singing of the national song. Following this, Congress passed a resolution to sing only two verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ at their events.
Upadhyay questioned Congress’s stance, stating that since Parliament has recognized ‘Vande Mataram’ as the national song and allowed its full rendition, why does Congress object to it? He referenced political events from 1937, accusing Congress of distancing itself from ‘Vande Mataram’ due to objections from the Muslim League at that time.
He linked this historical context to the partition of India and the formation of Pakistan, asking if Congress has now become an alternative to the Muslim League by objecting to ‘Vande Mataram’ in its entirety. Upadhyay demanded clarity from Congress regarding its respect for the national song and its complete form.
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania countered the BJP’s claims regarding the ‘Vande Mataram’ dispute. He noted that the Assembly proceedings begin with the national anthem, while ‘Vande Mataram’ is sung at the end. He asserted that on the day of the incident, the Assembly commenced with the national anthem, yet BJP members began chanting slogans instead of remaining seated.
Pathania questioned who violated the respect for the national anthem, suggesting that the public could determine who was truly disrespectful.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe responded to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s questions about ‘Vande Mataram’ and the two-nation theory. He accused the BJP of being a “fragmentation gang.” Londhe referenced historical political contexts involving the Hindu Mahasabha, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, raising questions about the BJP’s past collaborations with the Muslim League.
He alleged that political cooperation occurred with the Muslim League in Bengal, Punjab, and Sindh during that era. Londhe also mentioned Savarkar’s alleged “two-nation theory” from 1937, urging the BJP to reflect on its ideological history before accusing Congress of divisive politics.
Londhe emphasized that leaders like Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Acharya Kripalani prioritized national unity. He argued that Congress’s decision to focus on the two verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ should be viewed in this historical context, as these leaders aimed to maintain national unity and promote widely accepted parts of the song. He accused the BJP of attempting to create societal divisions by repeatedly raising Hindu-Muslim issues.
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