Vande Mataram: Modi Criticizes Congress for Historical Appeasement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of dividing the national song Vande Mataram for appeasement, citing Jawaharlal Nehru's agreement with concerns from the Muslim League. Modi highlighted the song's historic role in India's freedom struggle and the opportunity to restore its legacy.

In a fiery address to the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress Party of fracturing the national song 'Vande Mataram' under the guise of maintaining social harmony. He accused Congress of practising appeasement politics and blamed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for agreeing that the song could antagonize Muslims.

Modi referred to a letter where Nehru expressed concerns following protests by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, in Lucknow. Modi alleged this led the Congress to weaken the song's historical significance by dividing it, marking an instance of political concessions stemming from fear rather than principle.

Emphasizing the song's role in India's independence movement, Modi lamented its historical marginalization, particularly during points of national crisis such as the Emergency. He called for a restoration of the song's standing on the occasion of its 150th anniversary, positioning it as a symbol of courage and unity against foreign oppression.

(With inputs from agencies.)