New Delhi, Dec 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing it of “breaking Vande Mataram into pieces” under the pretext of social harmony and continuing with a long tradition of appeasement politics.
Speaking during a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Vande Mataram, Modi cited a letter written by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Subhash Chandra Bose, where Nehru reportedly agreed that the song’s background could “antagonise Muslims”. The letter, he said, was written after a protest led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Lucknow.
Modi said the Congress later convened a session in “Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Bengal” to re-examine the national song and eventually agreed, on October 26, to divide it an act he described as a “compromise driven by appeasement”.
“History is witness that Congress bowed to pressure from the Muslim League. Because they agreed to divide Vande Mataram, they later agreed to divide India,” he alleged, drawing strong applause from treasury benches.
The prime minister said Mahatma Gandhi had described Vande Mataram in 1905 as widely popular and equal to a national anthem, questioning why his position was disregarded. “If it was so beloved, why was injustice done to it? What forces were strong enough to overrule Mahatma Gandhi’s wishes?” he asked.
Modi also recalled that the 100th year of Vande Mataram coincided with the Emergency, calling it a period when the Constitution was “throttled” and patriots were jailed.
He hailed the song’s historic role in uniting India during the freedom struggle, saying its mantra gave strength and courage to countless people. “It is a matter of pride that we are celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram. We must not miss this opportunity to restore its greatness,” he said.
Modi noted that despite British repression—including attempts to suppress printing and circulation—Vande Mataram became a symbol of defiance. “When Bengal was divided in 1905, Vande Mataram stood like a rock and inspired unity,” he added.