BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has criticised the Congress amid the ongoing political controversy over the recitation of ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Congress headquarters, urging political parties not to turn the national song into a political issue.
Reacting to the controversy, Tiwari questioned the reported opposition to singing the complete version of Vande Mataram and said the BJP should not be blamed for the song because it existed long before the party came into being.
Manoj Tiwari Questions Congress Stand
Tiwari said people would naturally be surprised if reports about Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s position on the complete rendition of Vande Mataram were correct.
He said:“Any citizen who hears that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi does not like the full Vande Mataram song would be surprised; after all, the BJP did not create Vande Mataram.”
The BJP leader argued that the controversy should be viewed in the context of India’s history rather than through the lens of present-day political rivalry.
‘How Can Someone Who Cannot Sing Praises of India Ensure Welfare?’
Tiwari launched a sharper attack on the Congress, questioning how a political party could claim to work for the country’s welfare while allegedly showing reluctance towards the complete national song.
He said:“How can someone who cannot sing the praises of India ensure the welfare of its people?”
Tiwari also referred to the Congress’s long period in power and questioned what its alleged “aversion” to the complete song could mean for its approach towards the country.
BJP MP Urges Parties to Keep Politics Away
Despite his criticism of the Congress, Tiwari called on all political parties to avoid using Vande Mataram as a political weapon.
He appealed to parties, including the Congress, to separate national symbols and expressions of patriotism from political disagreements.“We urge all parties, including Congress, to keep politics aside and not drag the adoration of Bharat Mata into political wrangling,” Tiwari said.
What Is the Vande Mataram Controversy?
The latest political dispute centres on the recitation of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters.
The issue has triggered a war of words between the BJP and Congress, with leaders from both sides debating the historical and political significance of the national song.
The BJP has accused the Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram, while Congress leaders have rejected the allegations and argued that the controversy is being politically manufactured.
The dispute has now brought questions surrounding the song’s history, its complete rendition and its place in India’s freedom movement back into the political spotlight.
