Why are BJP and Congress Fighting Over Vande Mataram?
Vande Mataram has returned to the spotlight as the BJP and Congress argue over a historic decision to adopt only part of the song.
During India’s freedom movement, one song was heard everywhere — in schools, protests, and secret meetings. That song was Vande Mataram. Written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and later included in his 1882 novel Anandamath, the song became a powerful symbol of pride and unity for freedom fighters.
In 1906, at Barisal (now in Bangladesh), more than 10,000 Hindus and Muslims marched together shouting “Vande Mataram”, showing how strongly the song united people. This year, India is marking 150 years of Vande Mataram. However, instead of only celebrations, the song has again become the centre of political debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accused the Congress of removing important stanzas from the original song. He claimed that such decisions later contributed to divisions in the country and even the India–Pakistan partition. To understand this claim, it is important to look at what happened in 1937.
In 1937, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which included leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu and Rabindranath Tagore, adopted Vande Mataram as the national song. However, they decided to officially accept only the first two stanzas.
The reason was that the remaining stanzas mentioned Hindu goddesses like Durga and Lakshmi. Many Muslim leaders, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, objected to these verses. The CWC felt that keeping only the first two stanzas would avoid hurting sentiments and help maintain unity.
This decision has now become a political issue again. During the winter session of Parliament on 8 December 2025, BJP and opposition leaders had a heated debate. PM Modi accused Jawaharlal Nehru of listening to Jinnah and said that Congress weakened national unity by changing the song.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi responded by accusing PM Modi of rewriting history and dragging Nehru and the Congress into every debate. He said that the decision on Vande Mataram was taken collectively and not by Nehru alone. Gogoi also said that Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had no objection to the song, and that opposition mainly came from the Muslim League.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the debate was happening because elections in West Bengal were approaching, and to divert attention from real issues. Home Minister Amit Shah rejected this claim, saying that honouring Vande Mataram should not be linked to elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised PM Modi, saying that leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore were also part of the CWC decision, yet only Nehru is blamed today.
Historians say the issue was complex. Historian Sabyasachi Bhattacharya wrote that Vande Mataram was a song that united people but also caused divisions during times of communal tension. Subhas Chandra Bose wanted the full song to be accepted, while Nehru feared it might upset Muslims.
Rabindranath Tagore later advised that the first two stanzas should be used for national purposes, as they did not hurt any community. This suggestion finally became the accepted solution.
The debate around Vande Mataram continues even today, showing how history, politics and emotions remain deeply connected in India.
