Vande Mataram Row: Amit Shah Demands Congress Apology Over Alleged Interruption

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress on Sunday over an alleged interruption of Vande Mataram during the party’s Independence Day programme.

Addressing a public gathering in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, Shah said the Congress should apologise for what he termed an insult to the national song.

Shah highlighted the Congress headquarters celebrations, where senior leaders reportedly interacted as organisers played Vande Mataram.

The BJP alleged that Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi signalled to Congress leaders to stop the song before they completed its full version.

Shah said events across the country played the full version of Vande Mataram during this year’s Independence Day celebrations.

The Home Minister highlighted the historical role of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Vande Mataram while criticising the opposition party. He recalled how countless freedom fighters drew inspiration from the song while facing imprisonment, physical hardships and even death during India’s freedom struggle.

Shah alleged that the Congress had failed to show due respect to the national song because of its political interests. He said that the alleged incident had been witnessed by people through television broadcasts and warned that the public would remember it.

Shah questioned why the organisers allowed the national song to remain incomplete during the Independence Day programme. He said the Congress should offer an apology to the memory of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and the people of India over the controversy.

Shah made the remarks while attending the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremonies for several development initiatives in Chittorgarh district.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma welcomed the Union Home Minister and presented him with a traditional safa.

On the occasion, Shah unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to commemorate his death anniversary.