Prime Minister Narendra Modi fiercely attacked the Congress in Lok Sabha, accusing the party of compromising on the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ from the freedom movement to post-Independence. He criticized Jawaharlal Nehru’s handling of opposition to the song, stating the Congress “fragmented” it and “bowed to the Muslim League,” ultimately leading to the country’s partition. (Screengrab: Sansad TV) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce attack on the Congress in the Lok Sabha during a special debate marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, accusing the party of repeatedly compromising on the national song — from the freedom movement to the years after Independence. Framing the discussion around what he described as Congress’ historic concessions to the Muslim League, the Prime Minister said the party had “fragmented” the song and betrayed the spirit of the freedom struggle. PM Modi Slams Congress For Injustice To Vande Mataram, Cites Nehru’s Letters And Jinnah Pressure At the centre of his speech was a sharp critique of Jawaharlal Nehru’s handling of opposition to Vande Mataram in the late 1930s. PM Modi told the Lower House, “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to Subhash Chandra Bose after Jinnah’s opposition to Vande Mataram, stating that he had read the background of Vande Mataram and thought it might provoke and irritate Muslims. He added that they would examine the use of Vande Mataram, and that too in Bankim Chandra’s Bengal.”PM Modi said the turning point came on October 26 of that year. “The Vande Mataram song was sung. But it is the misfortune of the country that on October 26, the Congress compromised on Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram ke tukde kardiye. That decision was a failure, a betrayal,” he said. “They bowed to the Muslim League and decided to fragment Vande Mataram.”The Prime Minister recounted how Vande Mataram had become synonymous with India’s struggle against colonial rule. “When they divided Bengal in 1905, Vande Mataram stood like a rock,” he said, adding that “Vande Mataram also showed India the path to self-reliance. Back then, from matchboxes to large ships, ‘Vande Mataram’ was written as a tradition. It became a means to challenge foreign companies and emerged as a slogan of the Swadeshi movement.”He described the song as something far deeper than a political chant. “Vande Mataram was not just a mantra for political independence. It was not limited to our independence; it was way beyond that. The freedom movement was a war to free our motherland from the clutches of slavery… During our Vedas, it was said, This land is my mother, and I am the son of the soil.”PM Modi also invoked Mahatma Gandhi, telling the House, “In the weekly Indian Opinion on 2 December 1905, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that the song Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra, had become famous across Bengal… He wrote that this song was so popular it had become like our national anthem, carrying deeper emotions and more melody than the national songs of other countries.”The Prime Minister asked why the song suffered “injustice” in the last century. “Vande Mataram was so great, then why did injustice happen to it in the last century? Why was there betrayal with Vande Mataram? Which were those powers whose wishes overshadowed the emotions of Mahatma Gandhi?” he said, arguing that Congress’ compromises ultimately fed into the conditions that led to Partition. “Congress compromised on Vande Mataram and, as a result, had to accept the decision of the country’s partition.”PM Modi urged Parliament to treat the occasion as a moment of national reaffirmation. “Some great people of India dreamed of a free India, and today’s generation dreams of a prosperous India. The inspiration for both is Vande Mataram,” he said, adding that India must become “Aatmanirbhar and Viksit by 2047.”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTMC Opposes PM Calling Bankim Chandra ‘Da’; Modi Responds With ‘Babu’ Humour | Vande Mataram DePM Modi Slams Congress For Injustice To Vande Mataram, Cites Nehru’s Letters And Jinnah PressureIndia Faces Two-Front Danger in China, Pakistan: Cautions Army, Cites Op Sindoor As Proof Of ResolveIndiGo Crisis Enters Day 7: Over 350 Flights Cancelled As Chaos Continues Across Airports in India’Multilateralism Cannot Survive On Double Standards’: Jaishankar Urges Amid Multipolar World ReorderFlames Rage As Crowd Continues Dancing To ‘Mehbooba’ In Goa Nightclub VideoCalls To ‘Send Usha Back’ Erupt After JD Vance’s Immigration Remark Sparks Fierce National OutrageCrowd Grooving To ‘Mehbooba’ As Flames Engulf Goa Nightclub, Video Goes Viral“Tariff Pressure Ended India-Pak Standoff”: Trump Makes Bold Claim“Unconstitutional Move”: PTI Hits Out at Asim Munir’s Defence Chief Appointment123PhotostoriesGlute-building workout to improve posture and back painElon Musk’s warning about the ‘dopamine race’ in social media: Why the threat still feels urgent todayThe 5 fastest wild cats in the world– Find out who tops the listIndiGo crisis: When travel plans fail, people shine; beautiful moments that won the internetWhat Your Birth Number Says About Your Divine Worship GodBengaluru Mega Road Project: Rs 4,808cr Upgrade, IT Corridors, Flyovers & Tunnel—In PhotosDiabetes prevention: Bengaluru doctor suggests 10 lifestyle tips that all diabetics must follow9 foods that help lower nighttime cortisol naturally7 things you should never do when sending kids to school’Mughal-e-Azam’, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Jab We Met’, ‘Tamasha’: Movies that revolutionised romance in Bollywood123Hot PicksIndigo Flight DelayPutin India VisitWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingAaron RodgersJosh SimmonsJayson Tatum InjuryMariasharapova and Alexander Net worthAryna Sabalenka Net WorthTim PoolRafael Nadal and Mery Net WorthCeeDee Lamb InjuryMLB Trade RumorsCardi B
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce attack on the Congress in the Lok Sabha during a special debate marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, accusing the party of repeatedly compromising on the national song — from the freedom movement to the years after Independence. Framing the discussion around what he described as Congress’ historic concessions to the Muslim League, the Prime Minister said the party had “fragmented” the song and betrayed the spirit of the freedom struggle.
At the centre of his speech was a sharp critique of Jawaharlal Nehru’s handling of opposition to Vande Mataram in the late 1930s. PM Modi told the Lower House, “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to Subhash Chandra Bose after Jinnah’s opposition to Vande Mataram, stating that he had read the background of Vande Mataram and thought it might provoke and irritate Muslims. He added that they would examine the use of Vande Mataram, and that too in Bankim Chandra’s Bengal.”PM Modi said the turning point came on October 26 of that year. “The Vande Mataram song was sung. But it is the misfortune of the country that on October 26, the Congress compromised on Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram ke tukde kardiye. That decision was a failure, a betrayal,” he said. “They bowed to the Muslim League and decided to fragment Vande Mataram.”The Prime Minister recounted how Vande Mataram had become synonymous with India’s struggle against colonial rule. “When they divided Bengal in 1905, Vande Mataram stood like a rock,” he said, adding that “Vande Mataram also showed India the path to self-reliance. Back then, from matchboxes to large ships, ‘Vande Mataram’ was written as a tradition. It became a means to challenge foreign companies and emerged as a slogan of the Swadeshi movement.”He described the song as something far deeper than a political chant. “Vande Mataram was not just a mantra for political independence. It was not limited to our independence; it was way beyond that. The freedom movement was a war to free our motherland from the clutches of slavery… During our Vedas, it was said, This land is my mother, and I am the son of the soil.”PM Modi also invoked Mahatma Gandhi, telling the House, “In the weekly Indian Opinion on 2 December 1905, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that the song Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra, had become famous across Bengal… He wrote that this song was so popular it had become like our national anthem, carrying deeper emotions and more melody than the national songs of other countries.”The Prime Minister asked why the song suffered “injustice” in the last century. “Vande Mataram was so great, then why did injustice happen to it in the last century? Why was there betrayal with Vande Mataram? Which were those powers whose wishes overshadowed the emotions of Mahatma Gandhi?” he said, arguing that Congress’ compromises ultimately fed into the conditions that led to Partition. “Congress compromised on Vande Mataram and, as a result, had to accept the decision of the country’s partition.”PM Modi urged Parliament to treat the occasion as a moment of national reaffirmation. “Some great people of India dreamed of a free India, and today’s generation dreams of a prosperous India. The inspiration for both is Vande Mataram,” he said, adding that India must become “Aatmanirbhar and Viksit by 2047.”
