PM Modi Criticizes Congress Over Compromises on ‘Vande Mataram’

New Delhi: During a special debate in the Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party of undermining the song over the past century. He questioned, “If Vande Mataram was so great, why was it betrayed? Whose influence dictated even Mahatma Gandhi’s approach to it?”

Opposition to ‘Vande Mataram’ Intensified in 1937
PM Modi noted that in 1937, opposition to Vande Mataram gained momentum when Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League began protesting against the song. According to the Prime Minister, instead of criticizing Jinnah’s statements, then Congress President Jawaharlal Nehru initiated a review of the song merely five days after the protests began.

Congress Yielded to Muslim League Pressure
The Prime Minister highlighted that Nehru wrote to Subhas Chandra Bose expressing concerns that the song might “offend or provoke Muslims,” suggesting reconsideration of its use, particularly in Bengal—the home of its composer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Modi alleged that the Congress leadership, instead of taking a firm stand, yielded to the pressure from the Muslim League.

Historical Betrayal and National Impact
PM Modi stated that Congress’s compromise on Vande Mataram contributed to the eventual acceptance of India’s partition. He further claimed that the party’s policies have not fundamentally changed, accusing modern-day Congress factions of spreading confusion over the national song.

‘Vande Mataram’ Stood Like a Rock Against the British
Highlighting its historical importance, Modi said that when the British divided Bengal in 1905, Vande Mataram stood firm like a rock, echoing through streets across Bengal as a rallying cry. While the British intended to weaken India through Bengal’s division, the song became a symbol of resistance and a source of strength for the nation.

“The clarion call of Vande Mataram inspired unity and courage,” the Prime Minister added, “The British realized that after 1857, it would be increasingly difficult to maintain control unless they divided and incited the people. Bengal became their testing ground for the policy of ‘Divide and Rule,’ but Vande Mataram remained a rock of national strength.”