Amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, a heated debate unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Monday over the significance of Vande Mataram, India’s national song. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra took the discussion further into the political arena, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “exposed the Congress party’s betrayal” of the song. Patra specifically highlighted the absence of senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the debate, claiming that they skipped the discussion due to a “sense of guilt” over the party’s historical stance on Vande Mataram.

Speaking to the media, Sambit Patra said, “PM Modi in his speech today exposed Congress’ betrayal of Vande Mataram. At the time when such an important debate on Vande Mataram was taking place in Parliament, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were not present in the House because of the sense of guilt they had in their hearts due to the betrayal committed with Vande Mataram. They knew they would not be able to take it.”

This comment comes on the back of PM Modi’s address to the Lok Sabha, where he criticised Congress for what he described as “disrespect” towards the national song. The Prime Minister specifically referenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s absence during the discussion, drawing a parallel with Jawaharlal Nehru’s historical handling of Vande Mataram. According to Modi, both Nehru and the contemporary Congress leadership had compromised on the song in the past.

During his speech, Modi recounted historical events surrounding Vande Mataram. He alleged that the Congress, under Nehru, had surrendered to the Muslim League’s opposition to certain stanzas of the song. He referenced a letter Nehru wrote to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, indicating that the song could incite Muslims, as evidence of the party’s betrayal. “Congress still insults Vande Mataram. Congress compromised on Vande Mataram and surrendered before the Muslim League. Nehru did a ‘tukde-tukde’ of Vande Mataram,” the Prime Minister said, framing the historical decision as a deliberate political compromise that weakened the song’s intended unifying impact.

PM Modi emphasised the integral role of Vande Mataram in India’s freedom struggle. He described the song as a “voice of our freedom movement,” one that “integrated everyone in the country and became the resolve of every Indian.” Highlighting its cultural and motivational significance, Modi said, “During the British era, it became a fashion to show India as weak, useless, lazy, and demeaned in all possible ways. Bankim da composed the song to shake the conscience of the country and bring an awakening. This song was to revive our history and legacy of a thousand years.”

He further described Vande Mataram as more than just a political mantra. “Vande Mataram is a modern avatar of our great cultural legacy,” he said, marking the occasion of the song completing 150 years. According to Modi, it served as a powerful spiritual and motivational force that inspired courage, patriotism, and national unity during colonial rule. He called the song a “powerful mantra” and a slogan that energized and inspired India’s freedom movement, asserting that the government aims to restore its glory for future generations.

Sambit Patra’s comments following the Prime Minister’s speech directly targeted the Congress leadership, suggesting that their absence from the debate was a result of discomfort with the party’s historical decisions regarding the song. “Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra knew they would not be able to take it,” Patra said, framing the absence as a tacit admission of the party’s past compromises.

The debate over Vande Mataram has historically been politically sensitive, as certain stanzas of the song invoke Hindu religious imagery, which led to modifications in its official adoption. Modi highlighted these aspects while linking the song to India’s larger cultural heritage and freedom struggle, asserting that it was meant to unite the country and revive its historical legacy rather than serve any religious or sectarian purpose.

The Prime Minister’s address and Sambit Patra’s subsequent comments are part of a broader political discourse in Parliament, where historical interpretations of Vande Mataram are often invoked in contemporary political narratives. By bringing attention to both Nehru’s historical decisions and Rahul Gandhi’s absence, BJP leaders are seeking to portray Congress as historically compromising on national symbols and lacking commitment to their preservation.

Patra’s remarks were also aimed at shaping public perception ahead of upcoming political contests, reinforcing the narrative that the BJP is the guardian of India’s cultural and historical heritage, while the Congress remains tainted by past compromises. “PM Modi exposed the Congress’ betrayal,” Patra asserted, reiterating that the party’s leadership could not confront this issue openly due to the weight of historical decisions.

The discourse over Vande Mataram reflects a continuing effort by both parties to assert ideological ownership over national symbols. Modi’s speech underscored the song’s role in India’s struggle for independence, its contribution to fostering unity during the colonial period, and its symbolic importance in contemporary India. By contrasting this with Congress’ historical handling of the song, he aimed to frame the narrative of moral and patriotic responsibility in favor of the ruling party.

In sum, the debate over Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha on Monday became a flashpoint for political contention. Sambit Patra’s assertion that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi’s absence was due to guilt amplified the BJP’s narrative that Congress has historically betrayed national symbols. PM Modi’s address simultaneously reinforced the song’s historical and cultural importance, linking it to India’s freedom struggle and ongoing efforts to instill national pride. Together, the Prime Minister’s speech and Patra’s commentary demonstrate how debates over cultural heritage continue to play a central role in contemporary political discourse in India.

The discussion also underscores the enduring significance of Vande Mataram—not just as a song, but as a symbol of India’s collective history, struggles, and aspirations. While the debate in Parliament focused on historical accountability and political allegiances, it highlighted the song’s continued ability to inspire dialogue, reflection, and national consciousness across party lines.