Vande Mataram took centre stage in Parliament on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Opposition leaders exchanged sharp comments during a special discussion marking the song’s 150-year anniversary. The debate became lively when Modi referred to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as Bankim Da. TMC MP Sougata Roy objected at once.
Modi paused for a moment. He then corrected himself with humour. He repeated Bankim Babu several times and said, “I respect your sentiment. And yes, I can call you ‘dada’ too, unless you object to that as well.” His remark created light laughter inside the House, but the political tension continued.
Meanwhile, the discussion widened. Rahul Gandhi replied to the debate with a short message: “Priyanka ka bhashan suno.” His comment came soon after Modi reopened a month-old controversy. Modi claimed that the Congress had removed important stanzas of Vande Mataram during its 1937 session. He said the decision “divided the national song” and “sowed the seeds of Partition.”
The Congress strongly denied this. Party leaders explained that the 1937 decision followed Rabindranath Tagore’s advice. Tagore suggested a balanced approach so that all communities felt included. Congress leaders then demanded an apology from the BJP. They accused the party of misrepresenting the Congress Working Committee of that period.
The argument grew stronger because of another issue. A few weeks earlier, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat had issued guidelines. It asked MPs not to shout ‘Vande Mataram’ or ‘Jai Hind’ inside the House. The Opposition said the government disliked symbols of unity. The ruling party said the guidelines protected parliamentary discipline.
During the debate, Modi highlighted the song’s historic value. He said Bankim Chandra Chatterjee first published it in Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875. He also said the words inspired the freedom struggle. According to him, the slogan worked as a “sacred war cry” during the anti-colonial movement, especially after the 1905 partition of Bengal.
Key points from the debate:
- Modi spoke about the unifying power of Vande Mataram
- Congress defended its 1937 decision and cited Tagore
- Rahul Gandhi gave a short response
- Sougata Roy objected to the “Bankim Da” reference
- NDA members got three hours to speak in a ten-hour debate
- Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi addressed the House
Although the political clash continues, Parliament used the occasion to reflect on the national song’s impact. Vande Mataram inspired revolutionaries and shaped India’s cultural identity. Many lawmakers said the country must keep honouring its message of unity. As the debate ended, several members agreed that the spirit of Vande Mataram should guide national conversations even today.
