Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of insulting the national song Vande Mataram and demanded an apology from them.
Yadav’s remarks came after the BJP alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge showed “utter disrespect” to Vande Mataram during the Congress’ Independence Day event on Saturday.
Several BJP leaders also alleged that Sonia Gandhi objected to the singing of the complete version of Vande Mataram at the event. The Congress, however, denied the allegation.
Yadav claimed that the singing of the national song was disrupted and that Vande Mataram was consequently “insulted”.
He also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, during which the complete version of Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort.
“Vande Mataram was the slogan and song that freedom fighters sang while sacrificing their lives for the country’s freedom. Therefore, insulting the song is condemnable,” Yadav said.
He said the song had gained widespread recognition through the film Anand Math and was associated with the freedom struggle.
“I believe that senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, whoever was involved in the insult, should apologise to the country. I hope they soon acknowledge their mistake and apologise to the nation,” Yadav said.
The controversy comes weeks after Parliament passed a bill making any insult to Vande Mataram a punishable offence. The legislation also accords the national song a status on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
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