Gandhinagar, February 23 – The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress engaged in a heated debate in the Gujarat Assembly on Monday after Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel moved a resolution to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song "Vande Mataram."
During the debate, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi accused the Congress and its past leadership, including former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, of diluting and disrespecting the national song for political gain.
Sanghavi stated, "Vande Mataram is more than just a song; it is a symbol of devotion to the nation as a mother. It is unfortunate that certain political parties and individuals harbor hatred towards this sacred song. They have done so in the past, and I see no change in their attitude."
He questioned why any Indian should object to singing a song that revolutionaries chanted while facing death during the freedom struggle.
Sanghavi alleged that opposition to "Vande Mataram" dates back to the pre-independence era.
He stated, "The British had objections to this song. Along with them, (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah also had objections, and so did his followers."
The singing of "Vande Mataram" began in Parliament only in 1992, after the BJP moved a proposal, asserting that patriotism for the BJP was not political, but an inherent value rooted in cultural nationalism.
Sanghavi attacked the Congress, stating that exactly 50 years ago, when the song completed 100 years, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency and jailed those who raised slogans of "Vande Mataram."
He added that during the current 150th anniversary celebrations, Congress leaders in Parliament opposed discussing "Vande Mataram," and some were absent during its singing.
"Even Nehru has a deep-seated dislike for "Vande Mataram," Sanghavi said.
In 1937, Sanghavi alleged that under pressure from the Muslim League, Congress leaders agreed to sing only the first two stanzas of the song.
He stated, "This division of "Vande Mataram" was not just a division of a song; it was the seed of the country's Partition." He accused the Congress of using appeasement politics to encourage separatist tendencies.
Sanghavi argued that if the Congress and Nehru had shown courage at that time, the country might not have faced Partition.
"Those who disrespect Mother India should have no right to be in this House," he asserted.
In response, senior Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar defended his party's historical association with "Vande Mataram" and accused the BJP of distorting history.
Parmar said, "The feeling of patriotism is inherent in the Indian people. There is no need to remind anyone of it." He clarified that he and his party support Chief Minister's resolution.
He described "Vande Mataram" as a "revolutionary formula" that shook the foundations of British rule and became the voice of the freedom movement.
Parmar traced its chronology, noting that Bankim Chandra first wrote the stanzas in 1875, and later expanded them in "Anandmath" in 1882.
He said that during the 1905 partition of Bengal movement, Rabindranath Tagore popularized the song, turning it into a unifying cry.
"You can change slogans and narratives, but you cannot erase history," Parmar said.
He pointed out that in 1946, at a Congress session in Calcutta attended by Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Nehru, a resolution was passed to grant "Vande Mataram" the status of a national song.
After Independence, he said, the Constituent Assembly recognized it as the national song with consensus, including Jan Sangh leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani participated in the discussion, stating that India's Independence movement was built on the unity of people across castes and religions under the leadership of the Congress.
He said, "People of all castes and religions united and laid the foundation of our Independence movement," while paying tribute to leaders such as Abdul Rasul, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rabindranath Tagore.
Mevani stated that the right to sing "Vande Mataram" belongs to every Indian.
He added, "I am proud to be a worker of the Congress, whose soldiers faced British batons, took bullets, and went to jail."
Defending Nehru against criticism from the treasury benches during the broader debate, Mevani said in a democracy, anyone could criticize leaders.
He asserted that Nehru spent 11-12 years in jail for the motherland.
"We can all chant this slogan, but who cannot? Those involved in espionage scandals and whose names appeared in Epstein files do not have the moral right to chant 'Vande Mataram'," said Mevani.
The resolution was passed unanimously with the Congress and AAP extending support.
While moving the resolution, the CM said that "Vande Mataram," written in 1875, completed 150 years on November 7 last year.
"Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this occasion is being celebrated nationwide. "Vande Mataram," which has become a mantra of national worship, is dedicated to mother India and provides an example of living an ideal life," he said.
"Let us all wholeheartedly welcome the glorious occasion of celebrating 150 years of "Vande Mataram" and resolve to keep national unity intact with new energy," he added.