WB CM slams Sonia Gandhi, calls Vande Mataram row "Insult to Nationalism"

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday, August 16, slammed senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, saying her "objection" to the singing of the full version of "Vande Mataram" amounted to an insult to nationalism and to the song's writer, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Adhikari said Gandhi's "irritation, objection and opposition" during the full rendition of the song had been witnessed by the entire country.

The BJP has accused the former Congress chief of objecting to the singing of the full version of "Vande Mataram" at an Independence Day event at the party's headquarters in New Delhi.

The Congress has denied the charge, saying there was no attempt to stop the singing of the full version and that Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time.

"I condemn Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's objection to Vande Mataram at party office. This is an insult to nationalism, patriotism and overall, to the creator of Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay," Adhikari told reporters at the state secretariat.

He accused the Congress of indulging in "high appeasement politics" to satisfy "one particular vote bank" and demanded that the party apologise.

"The entire Bengal is fuming. On behalf of the people of the state, I denounce the party. I hope they will tender an unconditional apology," Adhikari said.

"The Congress cannot hide anything; the entire country has seen how Sonia Gandhi was visibly furious when Vande Mataram was being played. Everything is on record," he said, adding that Congress leaders attempting to defend Gandhi would not be able to paper over what had transpired.

"While the full Vande Mataram was being sung, the way the real owner of the Congress, Sonia Gandhi, expressed irritation, objection and opposition was witnessed by the entire country," he said. "Whatever efforts Congress leaders may make to save their leader, after the live telecast and the video that has gone viral, there is no scope for them to cover up the truth."

Adhikari pointed out that the country was observing the 150th anniversary of "Vande Mataram," with year-long programmes being organised nationwide.

He noted that the BJP dispensation in Bengal had made singing "Vande Mataram" compulsory during prayers in all government and government-aided educational institutions.

The chief minister also said Sumitra Chattopadhyay, a direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has written to Gandhi and Kharge protesting the alleged objection to singing the full version of the song.

"I do not expect anything from the Congress leaders in West Bengal because I do not think they have the ability or the courage to say anything on this issue," Adhikari said. "However, in view of the letter written by Sumitra Chattopadhyay, we will wait for the response from Gandhi and Kharge."

Adhikari also referred to a recently enacted law concerning the singing of "Vande Mataram." Parliament last month passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making any insult to the national song a punishable offence.

The bill was passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha on July 30, a day after its approval in the Rajya Sabha, and grants "Vande Mataram" status on par with the national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana."

Recalling the song's significance in the rise of Indian nationalism, Adhikari said it had been a source of inspiration during the freedom struggle and became integral to the movement during the 1905 Partition of Bengal.

He cited freedom fighter Bipin Chandra Pal's description of "Swadeshi, boycott and Vande Mataram" as the three key driving forces of India's independence struggle.

The chief minister also announced that the state government would establish a museum of national stature dedicated to "Vande Mataram" this year.

(Inputs from PTI)