Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Congress of disrespecting India’s freedom fighters, alleging that the party is refusing to follow government norms related to singing ‘Vande Mataram’ at official functions.
Speaking to reporters in Chengalpattu during his visit to Tamil Nadu, Shah said the Congress had, in 1937, split the song into two parts with the aim of “appeasing” Muslims, and claimed this decision laid the groundwork for the country’s Partition.
He further alleged that the Congress Working Committee has reiterated the party’s 1937 position by deciding that only the first two stanzas of the national song would be sung at Congress events.
Shah said that during the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempted to correct what he called a “historical mistake” by promoting the full rendition of the song to strengthen national unity. He added that the government has taken legal steps to ensure the full song is sung at all official programmes, and claimed the Congress has chosen to ignore this.
Referring to the freedom struggle, Shah said many activists spent years in prison raising the slogan ‘Vande Mataram’. He alleged that under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the Congress is returning to “appeasement politics” while rejecting parliamentary law.
