Maharashtra Congress hits back at BJP, asks Vande Mataram to be sung at all RSS shakas

The Maharashtra Congress has rebutted the BJP's claim that the party was disrespecting the national song 'Vande Mataram' by insisting the Congress has been singing the song in accordance with the guidelines set by national leaders during the independence movement for the past 90 years. The Congress spokesperson, Harshwardhan Sapkal, highlighted that the shorter version of 'Vande Mataram' was recommended by a committee led by Rabindranath Tagore and approved at a Congress gathering presided over by Subhas Chandra Bose.

This decision was guided by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Sapkal dismissed the BJP's narrative as misguided and urged the party to encourage the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to sing the national anthem at its shakhas. He also criticized the RSS for not displaying the national flag at its headquarters for a long time and organizing a 'Tiranga rally' as a display of patriotism.

Sapkal emphasized that the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, aimed at engaging young people to discuss their concerns, was not a political event and anyone could participate regardless of their caste, religion, or political affiliation. He attributed the BJP's concerns to their focus on divisive tactics rather than addressing the core issues.