BJP hits out at Congress over Vande Mataram row in Goa

The BJP on Tuesday condemned the Congress for singing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram at a programme in Goa attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging that it was compromising its own traditions due to “vote-bank politics”. The remarks came a day after Kharge attended a booth workers’ convention in Goa’s Verna where only two stanzas of the national song were sung.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress should stop claiming a monopoly over the legacy of the freedom movement if it does not respect the national song.
“If this is what the Congress party is doing with the great national song Vande Mataram, you better stop claiming monopoly as the custodian of the freedom movement,” he said.

Prasad said Vande Mataram was an important song of India’s freedom struggle and alleged that the Congress’ decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram was linked to pressure from the Muslim League in the 1930s.
He also referred to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and said the law had subsequently been amended to provide protection to Vande Mataram.

“The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act was enacted in 1971 when the Congress Government was in power, and Indira Gandhi was the prime minister,” he said.
“The law has now been amended to include Vande Mataram. If anyone mocks or insults it, action can be taken against them,” he said.
Prasad alleged that the Congress was abandoning its own traditions because of vote-bank considerations.

“When national-interest issues clash with vote-bank politics, the Congress party retreats. It does not even respect its own traditions,” he said.
Prasad displayed a copy of the original Constitution at the press conference and referred to the illustrations contained in it.

He pointed to an illustration of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman returning to Ayodhya and another depicting Lord Krishna giving the teachings of the Gita to Arjuna.
“The people who framed the Constitution decided that the original Constitution should represent the symbols of India’s culture and civilisation. Is this an insult to religious faith? What does this mean? Where will you take 
this country, Mr Kharge?” Prasad asked.

Prasad also attacked the Congress over the issue of “dimagi Naxals”, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day remarks on the need to remain cautious of such elements.

The BJP leader said his party respects the Opposition’s right to criticise the Government but will not compromise on issues concerning the country’s interests.
“We fully respect constructive and meaningful criticism. This is a democracy, and you have the right to criticise. But if you stand against forces that seek to break the country, that is a serious issue,” Prasad said.
He accused the Congress of going beyond its Opposition to the BJP and standing against national symbols.

“The Congress party, in its Opposition to the BJP and hatred towards Modi, has gone beyond that and is now standing against national symbols. This is very unfortunate,” he said, adding that a “competition” has begun among Opposition leaders to call themselves “dimagi Naxal”.

Prasad, responding to a question on whether the Congress’ position on Vande Mataram was linked to pressure from its Muslim vote bank, accused the party of being willing to “descend to any extent” for electoral gains.
“Congress is willing to go to any extent under pressure from the Muslim vote bank. I say this with full sense of responsibility: in pursuit of vote-bank politics, particularly among the Muslim community, the Congress party is willing to descend to any extent,” he said.

Prasad also challenged the opposition party to defeat Modi in elections instead of opposing national symbols.“If you are so eager, defeat Modi in the elections... defeat him, and we will sit in the Opposition,” he said.
“But the people are going to defeat you. You will lose again, and you will lose even more badly. Out of that frustration, you are standing against the symbols of the country,” Prasad added.