Congress’s Politics Over Respect for Vande Mataram Is Unfortunate: Anurag Singh Thakur
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Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday strongly objected to the alleged conduct of Congress leaders during the rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters. He said Congress had once again demonstrated how uncomfortable its leaders were with Vande Mataram. “This is not a question of any party’s protocol; it is a matter of respect for the entire nation,” he said.
Thakur said Congress had insulted the sentiments of the country in pursuit of what he described as petty and appeasement politics. He demanded that Congress leaders apologise to the people of India. He said that whenever the national song is rendered, every Indian is expected to stand with full respect and discipline.
He alleged that while the original version of Vande Mataram was being rendered at the Congress headquarters, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were seen expressing their disagreement and appeared to be attempting to stop the rendition. “Such a situation is deeply unfortunate,” Thakur said.
He said Vande Mataram belongs neither to the BJP nor to the Congress. It is an integral part of the spirit of India’s freedom struggle and a symbol of the patriotic sentiments of millions of Indians who made immense sacrifices for the country’s independence.
“The country is watching, and the country will remember,” Thakur said, adding that Congress leaders should apologise to the people and make it clear that such a situation concerning respect for the national song would not be repeated in the future.
