Chittorgarh, Aug 2026 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the party of disrespecting the national song Vande Mataram during its Independence Day celebrations at its headquarters and demanding an apology from its leaders.
Addressing a gathering in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh, Shah said the country would not forgive the Congress for what he described as the “sin” of stopping Vande Mataram before its complete rendition. His remarks came amid a political controversy over an incident at the Congress headquarters during the party’s Independence Day programme.
The BJP has alleged that Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi objected to the full version of the song being played and gestured to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to stop it. Congress has not accepted the BJP’s characterisation of the incident, making the episode a fresh point of political confrontation between the two parties.
Shah said that 80 years after Independence, the complete version of Vande Mataram was played at various Independence Day events across the country and questioned why the Congress should have any objection to the song.
Recalling the historical significance of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s composition, the Home Minister said the words “Vande Mataram”, meaning “I bow to thee, Mother India”, had inspired countless freedom fighters during the struggle against British rule.
“Thousands and lakhs of freedom fighters” had faced imprisonment, bullets and lathis while raising the slogan, Shah said, accusing the Congress of forgetting the song for what he termed “vote-bank politics”.
He further targeted Sonia Gandhi over the controversy, saying that the alleged gesture to stop the song had been witnessed by people across the country. Shah said that after eight decades of Independence, when the historic composition was being accorded renewed respect, such an incident was unacceptable.
“How could anyone even think of leaving the singing of Vande Mataram incomplete?” Shah asked, calling on Congress leaders to apologise to the people and to the legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
The Home Minister made the remarks while attending the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremonies for several development projects in Chittorgarh district.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma welcomed Shah at the event and presented him with a traditional safa. During his visit, Shah also unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the occasion of his death anniversary.
The controversy over Vande Mataram has added another emotive issue to the political debate between the BJP and Congress, with both parties invoking the history and legacy of India’s freedom movement.
