“The full version of Vande Mataram sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India. For us, the considered judgment of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Acharya Narendra Dev, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu and J.B. Kripalani — shaped in no small part by the counsel of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore — remains paramount,” said Mr. Venugopal.
Honour freedom fighters
In the post, the Congress leader said, “With respect and humility, we would like our allies to honour the wisdom and judgment of our freedom fighters and stand with us in singing only the version of this beautiful and historic song that they adopted. That version was chosen deliberately, to keep the song from being communalised — a threat as real today as it was then. Upholding it is how we uphold the secular, inclusive character of our Republic.”The Congress posts on social media platforms drew a sharp reaction from NC leaders. NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq shared videos of swearing-in ceremonies involving a Congress chief minister and asked Mr. Karra to comment.
NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said, “The NC’s official position is that it is not a votary of either the first two stanzas or six stanzas of the national song. However, it is a Constitutional obligation, and every holder of a Constitutional office has to accept it, whether it is the CM, a MP or anyone else.”
Referring to videos from the Congress-ruled states of Karnataka and Telangana, Mr. Dar said, “The chief ministers stand for all the six stanzas. However, we do not want to make this a controversy. We are not here to fight the Congress.”
Meanwhile, the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also criticised the NC. “On every key issue, Rahul Gandhi took a stand, his J&K ally NC caved and rolled out the red carpet for the BJP. No condemnation on the Waqf amendment Bill. No condemnation of SIR fraud. Justifying EVM rigging concerns. Accepted Vande Mataram’s addition. INDIA bloc in elections, BJP’s silent enabler in practice,” said PDP leader and legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra.