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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and said the Congress has always respected Vande Mataram and upheld its legacy. Kharge also alleged that Amit Shah repeatedly attacks the Congress with “copied-and-pasted statements.”
Kharge targets Modi–Shah in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: During a discussion on Vande Mataram in the Rajya Sabha, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on the BJP government and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of distorting history and questioning the patriotism of the Congress.
Kharge Defends Congress Tradition on Vande Mataram
Kharge asserted that he has been singing Vande Mataram for over 60 years, since his days as an MLA and MP. He accused BJP leaders of “double standards,” saying those who never sang the song earlier are now using it to target the Congress.
He paid tribute to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and said the Congress has always respected Vande Mataram and upheld its legacy. Kharge also alleged that Amit Shah repeatedly attacks the Congress with “copied-and-pasted statements.”
Questions Raised on Nehru, Gandhi, and Subhas Chandra Bose
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, Kharge said BJP leaders consistently try to discredit Jawaharlal Nehru without any factual basis.
He cited historical events from October 1937, when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose consulted Rabindranath Tagore on the Congress’s stance on Vande Mataram, and Nehru subsequently met Tagore to uphold a collective decision.
Kharge questioned why Nehru is being targeted when he stood with the nation’s leading freedom fighters.
Kharge also invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s 1921 Non-Cooperation Movement, noting that slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” were integral to the struggle—long before the BJP existed. He alleged that BJP leaders “were not part of the freedom struggle and worked with the British,” accusing them of opposing patriotic ideals historically.
Serious Allegations Against the Modi Government
Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi of ignoring pressing national issues and focusing solely on attacking the Congress.
He criticized the government over the economy, the falling value of the rupee, increasing Chinese influence, and rising terrorist incidents. Kharge reiterated Modi’s own 2020 statement claiming he had “taken no action against China.”
Commotion in the House
The House witnessed an uproar as Kharge accused BJP leaders of spreading hatred while lecturing Congress on patriotism.
He reminded them of Sardar Patel’s ban on organizations that spread discord. Ending his speech with slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram,” Kharge triggered loud protests from BJP benches, leading to chaos in the House.
