BJP Chief Nitin Nabin calls Congress 'New Muslim League' over Vande Mataram stance

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin has sharply criticized the Congress party's recent decision to continue singing only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' at party events. Nabin, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), equated the Congress with the 'new Muslim League,' accusing the party of appeasing a particular vote bank at the cost of national self-respect. The controversy erupted after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) reaffirmed its 1937 resolution, which recommended singing only the initial two stanzas of the national song at public gatherings. Nabin asserted that the Congress has now formalized its 'insult' to Vande Mataram into a resolution, thereby demonstrating contempt for the sacrifices of national martyrs. He also alluded to an incident on August 15, where BJP leaders accused Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi of talking during the rendition of Vande Mataram at the party headquarters, an incident the Congress dismissed as a coincidence. The Congress's stance is rooted in a 1937 CWC resolution, which was adopted during the freedom movement. Party leaders, including Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, have defended this decision by citing the support of prominent freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Sardar Patel for singing only the first two stanzas. According to the party, these initial stanzas celebrate the motherland's natural beauty and are considered free of objectionable imagery, unlike some later verses that have been interpreted by some as having religious undertones. The Union government, however, has a protocol requiring all six stanzas of Vande Mataram to be sung at official functions. This has led to a direct political confrontation, with the BJP accusing the Congress of converting appeasement into official policy. The BJP's criticism goes beyond the mere rendition of the song, framing it as a debate over patriotism, history, and political identity. The historical context of Vande Mataram is complex. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the late 19th century and incorporated into his novel 'Anandamath,' the song became a potent nationalist slogan during the Swadeshi Movement. However, concerns about its religious imagery emerged early on, particularly among some Muslim leaders, who viewed references to 'Mother India' as a goddess as conflicting with Islamic monotheism. Mahatma Gandhi himself acknowledged the song's powerful impact while also advocating against its imposition, emphasizing that its singing should be voluntary. In 1950, the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were formally adopted as India's National Song, with the Constituent Assembly according it equal honor with the National Anthem. However, no mandatory recital protocol was prescribed at that time. The recent directive from the Union government mandating all six stanzas at official functions marks a shift towards formalizing performance requirements, thereby reigniting the ongoing debate. Nalin Kohli, a senior BJP leader and spokesperson, has consistently been critical of the Congress on various national issues, often questioning the party's stance and intentions. In this instance, his strong reaction reflects the BJP's broader strategy of highlighting perceived ideological differences with the Congress, particularly on matters of national symbols and cultural identity, aiming to mobilize its support base and frame the political narrative.

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