Rejecting opposition criticism over timing, Amit Shah accused Congress of suppressing Vande Mataram due to “appeasement politics” from Nehru to the Emergency era.
BY PC Bureau
December 9, 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a special discussion in the Rajya Sabha to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram, describing Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s composition as an “immortal creation” that continues to inspire generations with duty, sacrifice, and patriotism.
Shah said the national song, written in 1875 as part of Anandamath, represents unity, cultural pride, and national resolve. “When a soldier at the border or a policeman inside the country sacrifices his life, Vande Mataram is the only slogan he raises,” he told the House.
He dismissed scepticism from some opposition members about the timing of the discussion, saying its message remains timeless. “The need for dedication towards Vande Mataram was important during the freedom struggle, it is important today, and it will remain crucial for the India we envision for 2047,” Shah said. The debate, he added, would help “future generations understand its glory.”
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Shah also rejected claims that the discussion was linked to upcoming elections in West Bengal. “Saying this debate is tied to West Bengal polls is demeaning the glorification of our national song,” he said. While Bankim Chandra was from Bengal, Shah stressed that Vande Mataram “was not limited to Bengal or to the country” and became a pan-Indian battle cry against British rule.
Agar Vande Matram ke 2 tukde na karte toh desh ka batwara nahi hota 🔥
HM Amit Shah rips apart congress ⚡️#VandeMataram150 pic.twitter.com/4ALhTUhyqa— ExtraSpiceAni (@ShrivastavAni) December 9, 2025
The Home Minister launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing it of historically suppressing the song due to “appeasement politics.” He argued that Jawaharlal Nehru’s decision in 1949 to allow only the first two stanzas in official use amounted to the first “tukde-tukde of Vande Mataram,” allegedly to accommodate the Muslim League. “Many like me believe the Partition would not have taken place if Vande Mataram had not been divided due to appeasement,” he said.
Shah claimed Congress governments targeted those who sang the song during both the freedom movement and the Emergency. “Indira jailed those who wanted to sing Vande Mataram,” he said, also criticising Rahul Gandhi for skipping the previous day’s Lok Sabha debate led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
