During the Winter Session of Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda criticised the Congress for not giving due respect to the national song Vande Mataram. He linked the issue to historical decisions in a Congress-dominated era. The debate highlights ongoing political tensions over cultural and decolonisation narratives.
The Winter Session of Parliament saw heated discussions on Vande Mataram, with BJP president and Rajya Sabha Leader of the House JP Nadda accusing the Congress of failing to accord the national song the respect it deserved. Nadda pointed to events surrounding the adoption of two stanzas of Vande Mataram as the national song during a Congress-dominated polity, suggesting this reflected a lack of reverence.
This debate aligns with the BJP's broader push for decolonisation, including critiques of 'Macaulay’s children' and accusations of appeasement politics. The party has seized on the historical context to launch attacks on Congress, especially following symbolic milestones like the Ram temple's consecration and the recent dhwajarohan in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led charges against colonial legacies, framing such discussions as part of a larger narrative.
An editorial in The Indian Express described the Vande Mataram debate as more heat than light, serving as a 'vanity project' for the ruling BJP rather than opening discursive spaces. It noted that while the session enlivened Parliament after a lull, the exchanges reduced to blame games without substantive progress. The discussion occurred alongside talks on electoral reforms, including the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of rolls in Bihar, but the focus remained on partisan thrusts.
Nadda's remarks underscore persistent rivalries between the BJP and Congress, with the former invoking national symbols to critique the latter's legacy, including references to Jawaharlal Nehru. No resolutions emerged from the debate, which an opinion piece called a showcase for political standstill.
