Delhi: In a fiery intervention during a tumultuous Lok Sabha debate, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the ruling party of turning national symbols into political tools ahead of key state elections. The confrontation unfolded during a discussion on Vande Mataram, triggering repeated interruptions, sloganeering and sharp exchanges across the aisle.
Speaking with force and clarity, Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of prioritising electoral strategy over national interest. Pointing directly at BJP MPs, she declared, “You are sitting here for elections; we are sitting here for the nation.” The remark prompted loud protests from the treasury benches, but Gandhi continued, insisting that the Congress would not be silenced. “Even if we keep losing elections, we will continue to sit here and fight you,” she said, reiterating that her party’s role was to defend constitutional values rather than chase political gains.
The Wayanad MP questioned why the government had introduced a debate on Vande Mataram at this stage of Parliament’s Winter Session, alleging that the move was a deliberate attempt to steer public attention away from urgent national issues. She argued that instead of addressing unemployment, inflation and concerns over federalism, the government was fuelling an unnecessary controversy tied to the upcoming West Bengal elections. “Why is there a need to debate Vande Mataram right now? The government wants to distract the public,” she said.
Priyanka Gandhi described Vande Mataram as a symbol woven into the country’s freedom struggle, noting its emotional and historical significance. “Vande Mataram reminds us of courage. It is a part of our soul,” she told the House, warning that politicising the national song would dilute its sanctity.
She further accused the government of attempting to generate new controversies targeting icons of India’s independence movement. According to her, this pattern was part of a broader strategy to shift public focus away from real hardships facing citizens. “This government wants an opportunity to level new allegations against those who sacrificed their lives for the country, only to distract the nation from real issues,” she said.
