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Is the Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram a genuine discussion on the national song’s legacy or a political distraction ahead of upcoming Bengal elections, as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi claims.
Priyanka Gandhi says Vande Mataram debate is a ‘diversion’.
New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday raised critical questions in the Lok Sabha regarding the ongoing debate on the national song Vande Mataram, calling it a political distraction aimed at influencing public sentiment ahead of the upcoming West Bengal elections. Gandhi argued that the debate was initiated for two main reasons: to bolster the Prime Minister’s presence in Bengal ahead of polls and to provide the government an opportunity to criticize leaders of the freedom struggle.
“This government wants to divert public attention from issues that truly affect the people,” Gandhi stated, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using the debate as a tool to polarize opinion. She described the focus on the national song as manufactured controversy rather than a substantive discussion, questioning the purpose of debating a song that remains alive in every corner of India.
During her speech, Priyanka Gandhi referenced a letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru to Subhas Chandra Bose, emphasizing the historical perspective on the controversy surrounding Vande Mataram. In the letter, Nehru remarked that the present outcry on the national song was largely driven by communalist sentiments and warned against pandering to such pressures. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of selectively reading the letter during his speech, presenting it incompletely to support his narrative.
During the Lok Sabha debate, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said Vande Mataram symbolizes the freedom struggle, humbled the British, and questioned why it’s being debated 75 years after independence.#VandeMataram150 #LokSabha #PriyankaGandhi #indianpolitics #VandeMataram… pic.twitter.com/qyP5tf1ekn
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) December 8, 2025
“The Vande Mataram reflects our history of freedom struggle and has inspired generations during India’s fight for independence,” she stated, underscoring the song’s significance in uniting people during the nationalist movement. Gandhi said that while the Congress would participate in the debate, it questioned the need for discussing a symbol that is already respected and celebrated across the country.
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The debate in the Lok Sabha coincides with the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the discussion, accusing the Congress of altering certain stanzas of the song in 1937, a move he claims contributed to divisions that eventually led to the Partition of India. Modi also criticized the Congress for actions during the Emergency, framing the debate as a reflection on past governance failures and the party’s historical decisions.
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Gandhi’s intervention highlighted the political timing of the debate, suggesting that the discussion was strategically placed to influence voters in West Bengal ahead of elections. She reiterated that the Congress remains committed to respecting the national song but cautioned against using it as a political instrument.
The Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram is part of the larger winter session discussions, which also include other pressing matters. While the Opposition criticizes the debate as diversionary, the government maintains that it is a way to revisit historical decisions and underline national pride. Gandhi’s remarks reflect a broader concern over the politicization of cultural and historical symbols in parliamentary discourse.
