Congress should apologise for insulting Vande Mataram on Independence Day: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his dissatisfaction with the Congress party on Sunday, accusing them of insulting the national song Vande Mataram during their Independence Day program. The minister alleged that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi requested the song to be halted midway. Shah contended that the Congress has lost sight of Vande Mataram due to the influence of vote-bank politics.

He pointed out that after 80 years of independence, Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort and other locations where flag hoisting took place. Shah recounted that thousands of individuals were harmed or incarcerated for singing Vande Mataram during the freedom struggle. He specifically demanded that Sonia Gandhi apologize to the nation and to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of the song.

In his speech at the Atal Gaurav Smriti Samaroh, Shah highlighted Atal Bihari Vajpayee's accomplishments, including transforming India into a nuclear power and improving tribal welfare, which culminated in the election of tribal-origin President Droupadi Murmu. Shah emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to prioritize tribal welfare.

Additionally, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma commended the country's improved security under Shah's leadership and highlighted Vajpayee's role in combating Left-wing extremism and enacting new criminal laws.