Amit Shah criticised Opposition leaders for politicising the 150-year Vande Mataram commemoration, asserting the national song transcends regional boundaries.
New Delhi
Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Opposition for connecting the Rajya Sabha discussion commemorating 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ to the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, stating firmly that the national song belongs to the entire nation and not to any single state.
Initiating the discussion in the Upper House, Shah said, This great House has come together to reflect on the spirit of Vande Mataram, to honour its glory, and to keep it eternally alive. Through this discussion, especially for our country’s children, adolescents, youth and future generations, they must understand Vande Mataram’s contribution to our freedom struggle, the patriotism embodied in its composition, and the spirit of dedication to the nation and its culture.
He added that such understanding would inspire younger generations to contribute to building a great India.
Responding to criticism from some Opposition members, Shah noted, Some members raised questions in the Lok Sabha yesterday, asking why there is a need for the discussion on Vande Mataram. The need for discussion on Vande Mataram, the need for dedication towards Vande Mataram, was important back then; it is needed now, and it will always be significant for the formation of great India, which we have envisioned for 2047.
Shah also condemned attempts to link the event to the upcoming West Bengal elections, saying, Some people think that because elections are approaching in Bengal, that is why Vande Mataram is being discussed; they want to diminish the glory of Vande Mataram by linking it to the Bengal elections. He stressed that although composer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee hailed from Bengal and Anandamath, the novel where the song first appeared, originated there, Vande Mataram’s reach expanded far beyond the region.
