Thakur asked – Don’t Congress leaders have even 3 minutes and 10 seconds to sing the entire Vande Mataram?
Congress’ appeasement politics cannot justify disrespect to 140 crore Indians and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Hamirpur/New Delhi, August 20, 2026:
Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Thursday strongly criticised the Congress Working Committee’s decision against singing the complete version of the national song Vande Mataram, calling it a reflection of a “completely anti-national, anti-Constitution and anti-Parliament mindset”.
Thakur said the Congress’ decision showed how far the party had allowed vote-bank and appeasement politics to override national sentiment.
“Vande Mataram is not merely a song. It is an inseparable part of India’s freedom struggle and a powerful expression of patriotism, national unity and the spirit of the nation. It inspired generations of Indians during the freedom movement,” Thakur said.
He said it was unfortunate that the Congress and the Gandhi family were repeatedly choosing to disregard the sentiments of 140 crore Indians and the historic contribution of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who gave the country Vande Mataram.
“The Congress must understand that national honour and national symbols cannot be subjected to the calculations of vote-bank politics. Vande Mataram belongs to the entire nation and transcends political, religious and social divisions,” Thakur said.
Taking a sharp dig at the Congress, Thakur said the party frequently invoked the Constitution but appeared unwilling to uphold the values of national unity, integrity and patriotism that underpin the constitutional ethos.
“The question is not about the protocol of any political party. The question is about the honour of the nation. Parliament and political parties must respect the sentiments attached to our national symbols rather than selectively interpreting them for political convenience,” he said.
Thakur also questioned the Congress’ political intentions, recalling the circumstances surrounding the Partition of the country.
“The Congress once accepted the division of the country for the sake of power. Today, when its leadership continues to play the politics of appeasement even on matters concerning national sentiment, the country has every right to ask: What exactly are the Congress’ intentions today? Does it once again want to put political interests above national unity and the sentiments of the people?” Thakur asked.
He said the people of India could clearly see through what he described as the Congress’ politics of appeasement.
“Respect for Vande Mataram is not the agenda of one political party. It is about respecting Bharat Mata and the sentiments of 140 crore Indians. No political compulsion can be greater than the honour of the nation,” Thakur said.
Thakur asserted that the people of India would not accept attempts to undermine national symbols for political gains and said that Vande Mataram would continue to hold a place of the highest honour in the hearts of Indians.
