New Delhi, Aug 20 — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Congress over the decision of its Working Committee to continue with the practice of singing only the first two stanzas of the national song 'Vande Mataram' at party programmes, accusing the grand old party of disrespecting the national song and the sentiments associated with it.
The BJP's reactions came a day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolved to continue following the tradition established through a 1937 CWC decision, under which only the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ are recited during Congress events.
The decision has assumed significance as the Centre has recently made the complete rendition of the national song part of official protocol.
Reacting sharply to the Congress decision, Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang accused the party of dividing not only the country but also the national song, while questioning the Congress leadership's understanding of the historical significance of 'Vande Mataram'.
Sarang, speaking to IANS, said, "The Congress has divided this country and has also divided Vande Mataram. The Congress has been committing this sin. Whether it was Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi, they have all been involved. Just four days ago, look at the way Sonia Gandhi insulted Vande Mataram. You talk about dividing the country, and you are dividing Vande Mataram."
He further highlighted the role of 'Vande Mataram' during India's freedom struggle and said the song had served as a source of inspiration for those freedom fighters who fought against British rule.
"How can Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi know the significance of Vande Mataram?" Sarang said.
BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh also criticised the Congress, alleging that the party frequently takes positions that hurt the sentiments of a large section of the country's population.
"Congress does everything that hurts the sentiments of the majority of people in this country. It does everything that goes against them, and Congress needs to look at itself in the mirror," Singh told IANS.
He further attributed the Congress' present political position to what he described as the party's double standards and said that its approach had contributed to its decline despite its long political history.
"It is because of this very double standards that, despite being the largest and oldest party, it has reached this stage today," Singh said.
Bihar government minister Vijay Sinha launched a strong attack on the Congress over its decision, accusing the party of being influenced by what he described as appeasement politics and questioning its understanding of Indian culture and the national song.
Speaking to IANS, Sinha said, "Congress is mentally enslaved, and the people in Congress are like bonded labourers. Such appeasement decisions at the behest of Sonia Gandhi, who is far removed from Indian culture and doesn't even understand the meaning of 'Vande Mataram', would be suicidal."
"This country will not accept anyone who doesn't respect Mother India," he added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam said that 'Vande Mataram' had played a crucial role in inspiring revolutionaries and freedom fighters during India's struggle for Independence.
Speaking to IANS, Kadam said, "Vande Mataram was the slogan of the revolutionaries and a source of inspiration during the freedom struggle. Many patriots went to the gallows, endured imprisonment and suffered lathi charges while chanting Vande Mataram."
Kadam alleged that the Congress had repeatedly criticised or questioned the national song and said that its recent position had drawn "widespread criticism from people across the country".
Meanwhile, the Congress continues to maintain its longstanding practice of singing the first two stanzas like it did during its struggle for India's Independence and even after the nation became free.