Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday backed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s criticism of the Congress party in relation to the Vande Mataram controversy, accusing the party of insulting the national song.
Addressing reporters, Gupta stated that interrupting the full rendition of Vande Mataram was an insult to the entire nation. She said, “The Congress party, which once claimed independence as its own achievement and maintained that the country gained freedom solely because of them, has today completely forgotten the true meaning of that freedom and the honour of this nation. They have become so self-centred that they feel no shame in insulting the national song.”
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Gupta demanded an apology from the Congress to the entire country over the incident, adding, “They consider themselves to be the supreme self-proclaimed leaders. I feel this is an insult to the entire nation, an insult to our tricolour, and an insult to our national anthem, and every Indian feels this as a personal insult. They must unequivocally apologise to the entire country and to Bharat Mata.”
Her remarks followed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on Sunday accusing the Congress of “shamelessness” after a video emerged showing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi halting the singing of Vande Mataram at the party headquarters during the Independence Day programme.
Shah said, “Look at their (Congress’s) shamelessness. The anthem Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress Party headquarters. During the anthem, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi told the Congress President to stop singing. We all just kept watching on TV.”
He further stated, “Sonia ji, 140 crore people are watching you. This sin you have committed will never be forgiven by the people of this country. How can anyone even dream of leaving the anthem Vande Mataram incomplete? The people of Congress should feel ashamed.”
The controversy arose after footage showed senior Congress leaders speaking among themselves while Vande Mataram was being recited. BJP leaders criticised this conduct, alleging it showed disrespect to the national song.
BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged Sonia Gandhi objected to the full rendition during the Independence Day event, claiming she became “agitated” after the initial stanzas were sung and asked for the rendition to be stopped, while Rahul Gandhi also appeared to signal for it to end. Malviya said the song was eventually, however, sung in full.
In response, the Congress denied that Sonia Gandhi’s actions were related to the national song. The party stated that she was ensuring the correct arrangements for Vande Mataram were followed properly during the event.