Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Congress’s decision to divide Vande Mataram in 1937, as a concession to the Muslim League, initiated appeasement politics that ultimately led to India’s partition. He emphasized the song’s role in cultural nationalism and slammed the opposition for belittling its significance. Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Congress’s decision to divide Vande Mataram in 1937, as a concession to the Muslim League, initiated appeasement politics that ultimately led to India’s partition. He emphasized the song’s role in cultural nationalism and slammed the opposition for belittling its significance. NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah asserted Tuesday that had Congress not “divided” Vande Mataram, India would not have been partitioned as its concession to the Muslim League over the song in 1937 started the politics of appeasement, which finally led to the country’s division.Initiating the discussion in Rajya Sabha on Vande Mataram’s 150th anniversary, Shah articulated a muscular concept of cultural nationalism, a founding tenet of BJP and the larger Sangh Parivar, and said Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s composition affirmed the ancient civilisational glory and tradition of worshipping the motherland that suffered from Islamic invasions and British rule.Shah slammed the opposition for belittling Vande Mataram by statements that the discussion was a way to divert attention from pressing issues and gain traction ahead of elections in Bengal.Partition result of dividing Vande Mataram: Amit ShahHome minister Amit Shah said it was fitting to pay respect to a song that had stirred patriots for generations and those thinking otherwise needed to revisit their understanding. “For us, India has not just been a geographical entity. We believe it to be a cultural space and treat it as our mother. Lord Ram and Adi Sankara believed in this, and this was what Bankim babu espoused in Vande Mataram,” Shah said in an apparent refutation of critics of the song’s evocation of Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati as marked idolatry and their refusal to sing it.”We do not fear discussing issues. We do not boycott Parliament. If Parliament is not boycotted and allowed to function, then discussion on all issues will take place. We don’t have anything to hide,” he said, noting that when the song completed its 100th anniversary, the country was in the grip of Emergency. Those singing Vande Mataram were jailed, he said.”Look at the situation of Congress, which used to start its sessions with Vande Mataram. But when the debate started in Lok Sabha, both members of the Gandhi family were missing. The opposition to Vande Mataram is in the blood of Congress leadership, from Jawaharlal Nehru to the present-day Congress brass,” Shah said in a pointed criticism of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.Shah accused many opposition leaders of not according respect to Vande Mataram and submitted a list to the Rajya Sabha chairman after Congress MP Jairam Ramesh asked him to back his claim. A BJP member will never do this, he added. He said it was only after a proposal by BJP MP Ram Naik that Vande Mataram started being sung in Parliament.Shah said the song became the chant of the freedom struggle despite British attempts to ban it. “Even though the (British) govt tried to ban it, and people were beaten and jailed for chanting Vande Mataram, it touched people’s hearts and spread from Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” he said, recalling Aurobindo who called it the “mantra” of India’s awakening.Targeting Congress and Nehru, Shah said the song was divided on its 50th anniversary in 1937. “That is where appeasement politics started. Many like me believe if Vande Mataram was not divided into two for appeasement politics, India would also not have been partitioned,” he added.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur, Deputy Metro Editor (Senior Assistant Editor), at The Times of India, has over 26 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has extensively reported on governance, policy and politics, offering readers deeply researched, data-driven insights into the workings of the capital. Known for his in-depth investigative reporting and compelling human-interest narratives, Atul brings clarity and context to complex urban and civic issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Singapura Derived From Sanskrit’: Singapore’s Ex-Deputy PM Highlights India’s InfluenceInterpol Blue Notice Explained: How CBI Tracks Absconding Luthra Brothers In Goa Nightclub Fire CaseIndia At The Centre: How The New US Security Blueprint Plans To Deepen Strategic Ties With DelhiBJP’s Nishikant Dubey Counters Rahul Gandhi, Accuses Cong Of Weakening India’s Key InstitutionsWhy Trump Accuses India Of Dumping Rice And What A New Tariff Shock Could Mean For Trade Relations’Vote Chori Is The Biggest Anti-National Act’: Rahul Gandhi Slams BJP In Lok Sabha’China…Trump…Economy’: Kharge Hits Out At PM Modi, Amit Shah In Rajya Sabha‘BJP Insulting Gandhi, Patel, Tagore’: Kharge Slams Amit Shah Over Vande Mataram & Nehru Claims’No Link To Bengal’: Amit Shah’s Fiery Speech on Vande Mataram, Blames Nehru, Indira of SabotageBJP’S Sanjay Jaiswal Thanks Rahul Gandhi For ‘Vote Chori’ Charge, Claims It Boosted NDA’S Bihar Win123PhotostoriesShilpa Shetty, Rani Mukerji and Aishwarya Rai; Big roles these leading ladies famously turned downFrom Shraddha Kapoor–Rahul Mody to Ahaan Panday–Aneet Padda: Bollywood’s most talked-about rumoured couples of 2025ABC juice health benefits: The superhero drink your body didn’t know it neededChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares healthy and extraordinary banana recipesJanuary birth? 5 reasons your soul chose to be born in this monthBig ears, big survival: 5 animals with unbelievably huge ears’Bigg Boss Season 19′ winner Gaurav Khanna’s stylish looks from the houseFrom ‘FA9LA’ to ‘Kaho Na Kaho’: Arabic music that shaped Bollywood’s biggest hits10 foods that make heart stronger naturally and how to eat themLesser-known facts about the ‘Tragedy King’ Dilip Kumar123Hot PicksCandace OwensCharlie KirkWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingMarvin Harrison JrTee Higgins InjuryTrey Benson InjuryMariasharapova and Alexander Net worthAryna Sabalenka Net WorthCeeDee Lamb InjuryRafael Nadal and Mery Net WorthCandace OwensSimone BilesAnthony Richardson Injury
NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah asserted Tuesday that had Congress not “divided” Vande Mataram, India would not have been partitioned as its concession to the Muslim League over the song in 1937 started the politics of appeasement, which finally led to the country’s division.Initiating the discussion in Rajya Sabha on Vande Mataram’s 150th anniversary, Shah articulated a muscular concept of cultural nationalism, a founding tenet of BJP and the larger Sangh Parivar, and said Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s composition affirmed the ancient civilisational glory and tradition of worshipping the motherland that suffered from Islamic invasions and British rule.Shah slammed the opposition for belittling Vande Mataram by statements that the discussion was a way to divert attention from pressing issues and gain traction ahead of elections in Bengal.
Partition result of dividing Vande Mataram: Amit Shah
Home minister Amit Shah said it was fitting to pay respect to a song that had stirred patriots for generations and those thinking otherwise needed to revisit their understanding. “For us, India has not just been a geographical entity. We believe it to be a cultural space and treat it as our mother. Lord Ram and Adi Sankara believed in this, and this was what Bankim babu espoused in Vande Mataram,” Shah said in an apparent refutation of critics of the song’s evocation of Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati as marked idolatry and their refusal to sing it.“We do not fear discussing issues. We do not boycott Parliament. If Parliament is not boycotted and allowed to function, then discussion on all issues will take place. We don’t have anything to hide,” he said, noting that when the song completed its 100th anniversary, the country was in the grip of Emergency. Those singing Vande Mataram were jailed, he said.“Look at the situation of Congress, which used to start its sessions with Vande Mataram. But when the debate started in Lok Sabha, both members of the Gandhi family were missing. The opposition to Vande Mataram is in the blood of Congress leadership, from Jawaharlal Nehru to the present-day Congress brass,” Shah said in a pointed criticism of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.Shah accused many opposition leaders of not according respect to Vande Mataram and submitted a list to the Rajya Sabha chairman after Congress MP Jairam Ramesh asked him to back his claim. A BJP member will never do this, he added. He said it was only after a proposal by BJP MP Ram Naik that Vande Mataram started being sung in Parliament.Shah said the song became the chant of the freedom struggle despite British attempts to ban it. “Even though the (British) govt tried to ban it, and people were beaten and jailed for chanting Vande Mataram, it touched people’s hearts and spread from Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” he said, recalling Aurobindo who called it the “mantra” of India’s awakening.Targeting Congress and Nehru, Shah said the song was divided on its 50th anniversary in 1937. “That is where appeasement politics started. Many like me believe if Vande Mataram was not divided into two for appeasement politics, India would also not have been partitioned,” he added.
