Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha J P Nadda, in a scathing attack on the Congress, said that the national song Vande Mataram—a deeply revered symbol of India’s freedom struggle and cultural heritage—must be accorded the same constitutional status as the National Anthem and the National Flag.
Nadda argued that the song, which evokes devotion to the motherland and inspired countless revolutionaries, has remained undervalued due to political compromises made in the early years of Independent India.
He asserted that while Vande Mataram commands respect and emotional reverence across the country, “a small section has been making a mountain out of nothing,” questioning the song’s stanzas despite their historic and cultural purity.
“Vande Mataram Never Received the Respect It Deserved”
Quoting from archival letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru, Nadda alleged that the first Prime Minister did not give the national song the dignity it merited.
\He said this attitude set the tone for the Congress government’s treatment of Vande Mataram, which he described as a compromise against India’s civilizational ethos.
“The Congress always compromised on the ethos, culture and thought process of India, and did not acknowledge the national sentiments attached to Vande Mataram,” Nadda said.
He reminded the House that Vande Mataram was not just a song but a rallying cry of India’s freedom movement, revered by revolutionaries and ordinary citizens alike.
Congress Counters, Accuses Nadda of Distortion
Congress members strongly objected, accusing Nadda of distorting historical facts and making misleading statements.
But Nadda insisted he was not defaming Nehru, only “setting the record straight on India’s history.”
Criticism of Nehru’s Letters
Citing a letter Nehru wrote to noted Urdu writer Ali Sardar Jafri, Nadda said Nehru criticised the language of Vande Mataram, its vocabulary, and its philosophical ideas, calling them misaligned with modern notions of nationalism.
Nadda also claimed that under Nehru’s presidency of the Congress, certain “sacred stanzas invoking Bharat Mata as Maa Durga, wielding weapons of freedom” were dropped under pressure from communal groups.
A Song Revered by Millions, Yet Contested by a Few
Nadda emphasised that Vande Mataram remains a sacred expression of national pride for the vast majority of Indians.
Its spiritual imagery, celebration of the motherland, and invocation of divine feminine power resonate deeply across regions, languages, and communities.
He said the only objections arise from a small group attempting to manufacture controversy, despite the song containing no offensive or exclusionary content.
“When the nation sees Maa Durga as a symbol of strength, sacrifice, and purity, what is there to oppose in these stanzas?” he asked.
Legal Gap Highlighted
Nadda pointed out that the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, does not provide penalties for disrespecting the national song.
“A country cannot run through compromises. National sentiments must always stand above politics. Vande Mataram is linked to our nationalism,” he declared.
Kharge Interjects
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge reminded the House that the discussion was about Vande Mataram and not Nehru.
But Nadda maintained that historical context was essential to understanding why the national song had not received its rightful place.
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