Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday criticised the Congress over its decision to follow a 1937 resolution on the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ at party events, turning the issue into a fresh political confrontation between the BJP and Congress.
Speaking to ANI in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, Shah accused the Congress of appeasement politics and argued that the party’s decision reflects a stand taken nearly nine decades ago.
What Did Congress Decide?
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) decided on Wednesday that the party would continue following its 1937 resolution, under which only the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ would be sung at Congress programmes.
The decision comes after the Centre made the singing of the complete version of the national song mandatory at official government functions.
Congress, however, has maintained its position regarding its own party events.
Why Is The 1937 Resolution Important?
The 1937 decision has become the centre of the latest political dispute.
The resolution was adopted during a Congress Working Committee meeting attended by several major leaders of the freedom movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
The party decided at the time that only the first two stanzas would be used in Congress gatherings.
The BJP and Congress now interpret the historical decision differently, with the issue becoming part of a wider political debate over nationalism, history and religious sensitivities.
What Did Amit Shah Say?
Shah alleged that the Congress decision was linked to its earlier approach towards ‘Vande Mataram’. He argued that the country had already faced the consequences of what he described as the division of the national song.
He also accused the Congress of disrespecting Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote ‘Vande Mataram’, as well as freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during India’s independence movement.
Shah further targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the party leadership of returning to what he described as vote-bank politics.
Why Did Congress Object To The Complete Version?
The dispute is not simply about whether ‘Vande Mataram’ should be sung. It also concerns which portions should be performed and in what setting.
Congress has chosen to follow its historical 1937 position for party programmes, while the Centre has directed that the complete version be performed at official government events.
This difference has now become a political issue between the two major national parties.
BJP And Congress Clash Over National Song
The BJP has strongly criticised the Congress decision, with senior party leaders accusing it of moving away from nationalist positions.
Congress, meanwhile, has defended its historical stand and its right to decide what is sung at its own organisational programmes.
The controversy is therefore likely to continue as both parties debate the historical significance of ‘Vande Mataram’ and its place in public and political events.
