Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge clashed in the Rajya Sabha over the ongoing parliamentary debate marking the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram.
The exchange followed charges made by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Lok Sabha on Monday, who argued that holding a debate now—and questioning the 1937 decision to adopt only two stanzas—was an “insult” to freedom fighters and the makers of the Constitution.
Amit Shah Rebuts Political Charge
Amit Shah initiated the discussion in the Upper House by attacking Congress leaders (without naming Priyanka Gandhi) for “questioning” the need for a debate on the national song.
- Rejection of Political Link: Shah sought to rebut the charge that the debate was a political ploy aimed at the upcoming West Bengal assembly election: “Those linking the Vande Mataram discussion to the Bengal polls must reconsider their understanding,” he stated.
- Accusation of Appeasement: He then accused India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, of starting the “beginning of appeasement politics” by “dividing” the original poem and limiting it to two stanzas in 1937, claiming this decision “led to partition of India.”
- Historical Relevance: Shah asserted that the need for a discussion on Vande Mataram is timeless, arguing it was relevant during the freedom movement and remains relevant today, and “will be as relevant in 2047 when Viksit Bharat would be achieved.”
Kharge Defends Congress and Attacks Shah
Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, immediately backed Priyanka Gandhi’s contentions and launched a counter-attack on the ruling party:
- Deflecting Attention: Kharge argued that the discussion was being held “to deflect attention from the problems country is facing.”
- Targeting Nehru: Kharge accused PM Modi and Amit Shah of leaving “no chance to insult Jawaharlal Nehru, and other Congress leaders.”
- Quipped at Shah: Kharge finished with a pointed remark aimed at the Home Minister’s proximity to the Prime Minister: “But that is only natural… Wherever PM goes, Amit Shah follows!”