Indus Valley Times

NEW DELHLI , AUG 22 : Accusing the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and the BJP of indulging in “politics of polarisation”, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said the Congress is following the Vande Mataram version that was decided by national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

He questioned whether the national leaders who decided on the shorter version of Vande Mataram were also “anti-national”.

The Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha was reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying its decision to sing just two stanzas of Vande Mataram was “anti-national” and aimed at appeasing its vote bank in defiance of the law.

“If you read the history, you would know. Pandit Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose and Vallabhbhai Patel all together decided to reduce it from six to two stanzas, stating that it is better for the country. In 1937, we still had not got freedom, all of them decided together, and all of us have been following it for 90 years now,” Kharge said.

Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, he questioned why the issue is being raised now when there was no issue for 90 years.

“You (Modi) were CM of Gujarat; why didn’t you sing? You have been the prime minister for 11-12 years now; why didn’t you do anything on the issue until now? Your BJP governments are there in several states, and you have your CMs there; why didn’t you do it there? Whenever you want, you bring new issues,” he added.

Stating that the Congress is never opposed to singing Vande Mataram, the AICC chief said the party and its Seva Dal have been singing it for years, similar to how we sing the national anthem.

“Jana Gana Mana was also lengthy with five stanzas; only one stanza is sung today. It was approved by Rabindranath Tagore. Vande Mataram has two stanzas, and Jana Gana Mana has one stanza; both will take the same time. We are singing today what was decided by all the top leaders. If we sing as per what they said — are we Desha Drohis? So, are Rabindranath Tagore, Nehru, Patel, and Bose Desha Drohis,” he asked.

“You (Modi/BJP) too have not sung all these days, so are you too Desha Drohis. They are playing the politics of polarisation in the country. This is not good; it is not good for the country. We may be here or not, but this country is permanent. Protecting this country, Constitution, and democracy is our responsibility. Understand this; one must speak,” he added.

Taking a dig at Shah, Kharge said he had become patriotic all of a sudden. “Why didn’t he announce a decision on singing Vande Mataram in its entirety all these days? He has been home minister for all these days,” he said.

Condemning comments calling those who do not sing the national song in its entirety as “anti-national” and “Muslim appeasement,” he called them “cheap.”

Kharge also hit out at those speaking against Pandit Nehru and others who fought for the country’s freedom, and said, “Those who had no contribution to the country’s freedom struggle are trying to teach us. Are you trying to teach us? Try to improve education, provide employment, stop inflation, create more investments, and improve the livelihood of the poor, instead of indulging in such things.”

Hitting out at the Modi government at the Centre for denying political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s planned trip to the US, Kharge said such travel aims at attracting investments, and the denial of such visits is an “injustice,” which he condemned.

“They give permission to people whom they want. They did not give permission to the Telangana CM. A large number of NRIs from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are in America. CMs go there and appeal to them to invest here and open industrial units or factories here. Also, those who want to invest seek land and tax exemptions from the government during such visits,” he said.

Noting that such visits, if they bring investments, benefit the state and the country, Kharge further said they also create job opportunities.

“The central government is purposely preventing. The CM may go and get investment, but the Centre wants the investments to come through them. Not giving permission is wrong. I condemn such an attitude. Whichever the government may be, the investments are brought for the country,” he added.

-PTI