‘Vande Mataram’ debate triggers uproar in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Dec 9: Tense scenes in the Rajya Sabha were seen on Tuesday as a discussion marking 150 years of Vande Mataram escalated into a political clash, reports The Hindustan Times.

Union minister JP Nadda accused Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge of diverting the debate by raising foreign policy concerns and the falling rupee, prompting loud protests from BJP members. In the Lok Sabha, MPs began discussions on electoral reforms, including the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.

Congress MP Manish Tewari opened the debate.  The Upper House continued its discussion on Vande Mataram, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in the Lok Sabha on Monday.  Kharge used his speech to strongly criticise the government, accusing the BJP of “insulting national leaders,” questioning its role during the freedom struggle, and alleging that the Vande Mataram debate was being used to divert attention from national issues. He also reminded the House of a Congress Working Committee resolution stating that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at national events. The uproar intensified when Kharge raised the rupee’s fall past Rs 90 against the US dollar and foreign policy concerns, with BJP MPs arguing he had strayed from the topic. Kharge later demanded an apology from Prime Minister Modi for “disrespecting national heroes.”