‘People will never forgive…’: Amit Shah slams Congress, Sonia Gandhi over Vande Mataram row

Union Home Minister Amit Shah harshly criticized Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Sunday, claiming that the party's Independence Day ceremony in New Delhi disrespected Vande Mataram and that people would never forgive such an offense. Addressing an event in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, where a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was unveiled, Shah said Congress had failed to show proper reverence to Vande Mataram.

He recounted the sacrifices made by thousands who recited the song while facing bullets, lathi charges, and imprisonment, to emphasize Congress' disregard for the hymn. "While chanting Vande Mataram, thousands of people went to the gallows, faced bullets, endured lathi charges, and spent many years in jail. But the Congress party forgot Vande Mataram," Shah alleged.

Shah further accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of intervening during the song at the party headquarters, asking the Congress president to halt the performance. "She asked for a chair for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who was standing, but that's all. Sonia ji didn't like it," Shah claimed. He urged Sonia Gandhi to apologize with humility, saying, "Sonia ji, 140 crore Indians are watching you.

The people of this nation will never forgive this sin. How could anyone even think of leaving Vande Mataram unfinished? Congress workers should be ashamed, and if they still have any shame, they should apologize with folded hands to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and the Indian people."