‘Fold your hands and apologise’: Shah attacks Sonia over Vande Mataram row

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (August 16) accused Congress of insulting Vande Mataram over vote-bank politics and demanded an apology to the people and its author, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Addressing a public meeting in Chittorgarh, Shah alleged that during the Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters, party leader Sonia Gandhi asked Vande Mataram to be stopped midway through the song.

‘Utter disrespect’

He alleged that during the Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters, Sonia had asked the party president to stop the song midway. "We all saw it on television," Shah said, adding that Sonia should apologise to the people and to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's immortal soul.

Also read: Vande Mataram echoes at Red Fort for first time during 80th Independence Day celebrations

"If there is any shame left, you should fold your hands and apologise to Bankim Babu's immortal spirit and the people," he said.

"Thousands of people embraced the gallows, faced bullets and lathi charges, and endured years of imprisonment. If they have even a shred of shame left, they should fold their hands and apologise to Bankim Babu and to the people of the country. Sonia ji, the public is watching you. The people of this country will never forgive this," Shah said.

The BJP hit out at the Congress, alleging that its top leaders Sonia, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge showed "utter disrespect" towards Vande Mataram when it was being sung at the party's Independence Day event, and demanded an apology from them.

Congress denies allegations

Several leaders of the ruling BJP also accused Sonia of objecting to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the event, a charge that the Congress denied, asserting that there was no attempt to stop the singing of the full version of the national song and she was only asking for a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge as he was standing for a while.

The Congress, however, denied the allegation, saying Sonia was gesturing for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress spokesperson Udit Raj accused the ruling BJP of making up a fake controversy to distract the public.

Also read: Interview | Vande Mataram law needless at best, harmful at worst: Historian Salil Misra

"This is a pack of lies. Sonia Gandhi did not do that. Our Congress president is not in good health; he cannot stand for long periods... so, Sonia gestured regarding the management of the proceedings, not to stop the singing of Vande Mataram," Raj said.

He alleged the BJP is unnecessarily trying to turn the Vande Mataram issue into a controversy to divert people's attention from important issues.

BJP remembers Vajpayee’s contributions

Addressing the gathering at 'Atal Gaurav Smriti Samaroh' held on the death anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah highlighted the contributions of the former prime minister.

Also read: BJP, Congress clash over Sonia Gandhi’s alleged Vande Mataram objection

Vajpayee took several major decisions, including making India a nuclear power despite international pressure after the Pokhran tests, Shah said.

He said Vajpayee's government connected villages with roads, built national highways and launched several initiatives during its tenure. He also credited Vajpayee with establishing a separate ministry for tribal development.

(With agency inputs)