The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday passed a resolution defending the full version of Vande Mataram and criticised the Congress Working Committee’s decision to restrict its singing to the first two stanzas at party programmes.
The resolution was adopted at a BJP meeting chaired by party president Nitin Nabin at the party headquarters. BJP leaders also recited all six stanzas of the national song before the meeting.
The BJP said the complete version of Vande Mataram represents India’s national consciousness and carries the legacy of the country’s freedom struggle. The party vowed to protect what it described as the honour and historical significance of the full national song.
BJP targets Congress over two-stanza decision
The BJP criticised the Congress decision to limit Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas, arguing that attempts to restrict the song could undermine its historical significance.
The party said it would oppose what it described as attempts to subject the national song to communal pressures, political appeasement or vote-bank politics.
The resolution comes amid a renewed political debate between the BJP and Congress over the national song and how it should be observed at official and party events.
Nationwide campaign planned
The BJP also announced plans for a nationwide campaign focusing on the history, significance and legacy of Vande Mataram.
According to the party, a key objective of the campaign will be to educate younger generations about the song’s role in India’s freedom movement and its broader historical context.
The BJP cited Mahatma Gandhi’s description of Vande Mataram as an “anti-imperialist slogan” carrying “purest national sentiment” while outlining its campaign plans.
The latest resolution is likely to intensify the political debate between the BJP and Congress over the national song, its historical interpretation and its place in contemporary political programmes.
Why the Vande Mataram debate matters
Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has long been associated with India’s freedom movement. The song was adopted as India’s national song, while Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem.
The BJP’s latest move seeks to place the complete version of Vande Mataram at the centre of a nationwide political and cultural campaign, while its criticism of Congress has added another layer to the ongoing political dispute.
