Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in the Lok Sabha on Monday during a special discussion marking 150 years of Vande Mataram. He strongly criticised the Congress party. PM Modi accused former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of following Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s line of thinking and focusing on communal appeasement.

He said Nehru once wrote to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and warned that Vande Mataram could “provoke and irritate Muslims”. Nehru also suggested limiting the song’s use. Meanwhile, Modi reminded the House that the song was born in the land of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in Bengal. Still, its importance faced resistance.

Modi links the song to the Emergency period

Next, Modi tied the history of Vande Mataram to the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. He said that when the song completed 100 years, “the Constitution was throttled and those who lived for patriotism were put behind bars”.

He described the Emergency as a painful phase for the nation. “The Emergency was a dark chapter in our history. Now we have the opportunity to restore the greatness of Vande Mataram. That opportunity should not be allowed to pass,” Modi told the House.

A powerful anthem of the freedom movement

Modi then spoke about the song’s role in India’s freedom struggle. He said it motivated freedom fighters and gave people strength. Even when the British tried to ban it, the song refused to disappear.

He said it “stood like a rock” against foreign rule.

“After the 1857 uprising, the British pushed ‘God Save the Queen’ into every household. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay responded with Vande Mataram, and despite the partition of Bengal in 1905, it unified the country,” he said.

Controversy over selective use of the song

After that, Modi referred to the 1937 decision made by the Congress. At that time, the party approved only the first two stanzas of the song for use at public events. Some Muslim leaders had objected to later verses because they mentioned Hindu goddesses such as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Modi said this move “sowed the seeds of division” and later led the country towards Partition.

“When Vande Mataram celebrated 100 years, the country was entangled in the Emergency… Now, at 150 years, it is our duty to restore its glory,” he added.

Recently, BJP leaders highlighted letters written by Nehru to Bose in 1937. They claimed that these letters showed Nehru’s readiness to restrict the song for political reasons. However, the Congress rejected the allegation. The party said Nehru had called the lyrics “harmless” and never meant them to be linked with any goddess imagery.

Modi connects the moment with national milestones

Finally, Modi placed the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram alongside other key national events. He mentioned several recent commemorations.

“We recently celebrated 75 years of our Constitution, 150 years of Sardar Patel and Birsa Munda, and the 350th martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur. Now we celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram.”

He concluded by saying that discussing and remembering the song in Parliament today was “a great privilege for all of us”.