Amit Shah Demands Congress Apology For ‘Stopping Vande Mataram Midway’ at I-Day Celebration
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused the Congress of insulting the national song 'Vande Mataram' and demanded that the party apologise to the people as well as the immortal soul of its writer, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Addressing a public meeting in Chittorgarh, Shah alleged that during the Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters, party leader Sonia Gandhi asked for the singing of Vande Mataram to be stopped midway.
Referring to the Independence Day celebrations held on Saturday, Shah said that 80 years after Independence, Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort and at other venues where the national flag was hoisted.
"Thousands of people faced bullets and lathis and were jailed for singing 'Vande Mataram'," Shah said, highlighting the role of the song during India's freedom struggle.
Shah alleged that Sonia Gandhi had asked the Congress president to stop the song during the party's Independence Day programme.
"We all saw it on television," Shah said, adding that Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the people and to the immortal soul of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
"If there is any shame left, you should fold your hands and apologise to Bankim Babu's immortal spirit and the people," he said.
The Home Minister also accused the Congress of having forgotten Vande Mataram because of vote-bank politics.
BJP Targets Congress Leadership
The BJP also criticised the Congress over the alleged incident, claiming that its senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge showed "utter disrespect" towards Vande Mataram during the party's Independence Day event.
The BJP demanded an apology from the Congress leaders.
Several BJP leaders alleged that Sonia Gandhi had objected to the singing of the complete version of Vande Mataram at the event.
The Congress, however, denied the allegation. The party maintained that there was no attempt to stop the full version of the national song and said Sonia Gandhi was only asking for a chair for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time.
Shah Highlights Vajpayee's Contributions
Addressing the 'Atal Gaurav Smriti Samaroh' organised on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah also highlighted Vajpayee's contribution to the country.
Shah said Vajpayee took several important decisions, including making India a nuclear power despite international pressure following the Pokhran nuclear tests.
He also credited Vajpayee's government with connecting villages through roads, developing national highways and launching several major initiatives during its tenure.
According to Shah, Vajpayee also played an important role in tribal welfare by establishing a separate ministry dedicated to tribal development.
The Home Minister said the progress achieved in tribal welfare was reflected in the election of Droupadi Murmu as President of India. He noted that Murmu came from a tribal family and went on to occupy the country's highest constitutional office.
Shah further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continued to prioritise the welfare and development of tribal communities.ALSO READ: Fuel Runs Out Mid-River: 40 Passengers Panic as Steamer Drifts 8 KM in Swollen Chambal (VIDEO)
