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PM Modi's Lok Sabha Charge: How Nehru Followed Jinnah on Vande Mataram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a sharp historical accusation in the Lok Sabha. He stated that Jawaharlal Nehru followed Muhammad Ali Jinnah's position, claiming "Vande Mataram" could irritate Muslims. Modi linked this 1937 decision to a legacy of political appeasement and division. He framed the 150th anniversary as a moment to reclaim the song's unifying spirit for the nation's future.

Key Points: Modi Accuses Nehru of Following Jinnah on Vande Mataram

  • PM Modi accused Nehru of aligning with Jinnah's 1937 stance on the song
  • He linked this historical decision to Congress's "politics of division"
  • Modi connected the song's 100th year to the suppression of the Emergency
  • He called for restoring the hymn's glory as a mantra of national unity
2 min read

Nehru followed Jinnah, claiming Vande Mataram could irritate Muslims, says PM Modi in LS

PM Modi claims Nehru compromised the national song to avoid "irritating Muslims," linking it to Congress's history of appeasement and the Emergency.

"When Vande Mataram celebrated its 100th anniversary, the country was entangled in the Emergency. – Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, Dec 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a blistering attack on the Congress during a Lok Sabha discussion marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, accusing the party of betrayal by aligning with Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s objections to the national song.

PM Modi charged that Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, had followed Jinnah’s stand in 1937, claiming the hymn could “irritate Muslims”, and thereby compromised its legacy.

Linking this appeasement to later political decisions, PM Modi said Congress not only fractured Vande Mataram but also sowed the seeds of division in the nation, a politics he argued persists even today.

The BJP had already targeted the Congress party in the build-up to the debate, alleging that the party “pandered to a communal agenda” during its 1937 session by diluting Vande Mataram under pressure from the Muslim League.

PM Modi amplified that charge, linking the hymn’s history to what he described as Congress’ repeated betrayals. “When Vande Mataram celebrated its 100th anniversary, the country was entangled in the Emergency. At that time, the Constitution was strangled, and those who lived and died for patriotism were pushed behind bars,” PM Modi said, drawing a direct line between the suppression of democratic freedoms under Indira Gandhi and the sidelining of the song decades earlier.

The Prime Minister praised the hymn, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in November 1875, as a rallying cry that inspired generations of freedom fighters. “Now, at 150 years, it is a good opportunity to restore the glory of Vande Mataram… which won us freedom in 1947,” he said.

PM Modi placed the commemoration in the wider context of national milestones. “We recently celebrated 75 years of our Constitution. The country celebrated the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Lord Birsa Munda. We are also marking the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur ji. And today, we celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram,” he told the House.

Calling the hymn a “mantra of sacrifice, unity and resilience”, PM Modi urged Parliament to ensure its legacy is preserved for future generations. “This is not just a tribute to history but a reaffirmation of our democratic spirit. The lessons of the past must continue to guide our future,” he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As an observer, I find this constant revisiting of historical decisions from the 1930s unproductive. Shouldn't the focus be on uniting the country with the symbols we have today, rather than debating past compromises?
V
Vikram M
The PM is right to highlight this. Vande Mataram inspired millions. Diluting it set a bad precedent of appeasement politics. We need to teach its full meaning and history in schools without any apologies.
P
Priya S
With respect, I think the speech mixes too many things. Linking the 1937 decision to the Emergency is a stretch. Every era had its complex challenges. Let's celebrate the song without using it for current political points.
R
Rohit P
Absolutely! It's high time the true legacy of our national song is restored. It belongs to every Indian, irrespective of religion. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
The sentiment is good, but I wish the discussion was more forward-looking. How do we ensure the next 150 years are about unity in action, not just debating old decisions? Our energy should be there.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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