Amit Shah Presents List of Leaders Who Objected to ‘Vande Mataram’ in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The controversy over Vande Mataram continues in Parliament, with Home Minister Amit Shah presenting a list of opposition leaders who have either refused to sing the song or raised objections to it. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Shah accused the Congress party of appeasement politics, claiming that opposition to Vande Mataram dates back to Jawaharlal Nehru’s era and contributed to the partition of the country.

Opposition Leaders on the List

The list presented by Amit Shah includes several Congress and other opposition leaders, citing incidents from both recent and earlier years. Notable names include:

• Imran Masood, Congress MP
• Aga Syed, National Conference
• Ziaur Rahman Bark, Samajwadi Party
• Arif Masood, Congress MLA
• Siddaramaiah, Congress MP
• Saud Alam, RJD MLA

Shah provided detailed documentation, including YouTube links and media reports, highlighting when and how each leader expressed objections to singing Vande Mataram. For instance, Congress MP Imran Masood reportedly refused to sing the song on 8 December 2025, citing religious sentiments.

Significance of Vande Mataram

Home Minister Shah emphasized that 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, a composition that has played a pivotal role in India’s independence movement. Recounting history, he noted that during its 50th anniversary in 1937, Nehru had restricted the song to only two stanzas, which Shah described as the beginning of appeasement politics. According to him, such policies contributed to the partition of India.

Shah further highlighted that leaders like Shyamji Krishna Varma, Madam Bhikaji Cama, and Veer Savarkar had inscribed “Vande Mataram” on India’s flag during the freedom struggle. He also recalled the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where the Indian hockey team drew inspiration from Vande Mataram to win the gold medal.

Allegations Against Congress

Shah accused the Congress of systematically opposing Vande Mataram, including halting its rendition in Parliament. He recounted that in 1992, BJP MP Ram Naik raised the issue in a short-duration discussion, and then Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani demanded that the song be sung in the Lok Sabha, which was subsequently approved unanimously. Shah claimed that even today, some opposition MPs walk out or refuse to sing Vande Mataram during parliamentary sessions.

The Home Minister stressed that cultural nationalism and adherence to India’s own traditions, rather than Western influence, remain the foundation of the BJP’s ethos.