Bankim Chandra's descendant seeks Sonia Gandhi's apology over Vande Mataram row

BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee has written to Sonia Gandhi over the alleged disruption of Vande Mataram at the AICC headquarters. He said the episode hurt West Bengal's sentiments and insulted the country's national heritage.

In Short

• Chatterjee said the alleged episode hurt sentiments across West Bengal deeply
• He called the incident a shameless repetition of a historical mistake
• The MLA emailed Gandhi directly and marked Congress chief Kharge

BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a direct descendant of Vande Mataram composer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has written to Congress Parliamentary Party (CCP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi seeking an unconditional apology over the alleged disruption of the song's rendition at the Congress headquarters during Independence Day celebrations.

Chatterjee, the BJP MLA from Naihati in West Bengal, alleged that there was discomfort and repeated attempts to stop the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram during the Independence Day event at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.

He said the incident had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of West Bengal and amounted to an insult to the country's national heritage.

In his letter, Chatterjee described the episode as "not merely unfortunate but a shameless repetition of a historical mistake."

Writing as a "patriot" and a direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, he expressed "deep pain, emptiness and anger" over what he termed the Congress leadership's discomfort with the full rendition of the song.

He urged Sonia Gandhi to issue an unconditional apology to the citizens of India, particularly the people of West Bengal, saying Vande Mataram symbolised the country's freedom struggle and the sacrifices of countless freedom fighters.

LOOK AT THEIR SHAMELESSNESS: AMIT SHAH

The controversy also drew a sharp response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the Congress of "shamelessness" over the alleged incident.

Addressing a public gathering in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh, Shah alleged that Sonia Gandhi instructed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to stop the rendition of Vande Mataram midway during the party's Independence Day programme.

"Look at their shamelessness. Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress headquarters. During the song, Sonia Gandhi told the Congress president to stop singing. Sonia ji, 140 crore people are watching you. This sin you have committed will never be forgiven by the people of this country," Shah said, adding that Congress leaders should be "ashamed" of the alleged incident.

'HER ACTIONS WERE TRULY SHAMEFUL'

Speaking to reporters, Chatterjee alleged that Sonia Gandhi's actions had insulted both the nation and the Bengali community.

"Her actions were truly shameful. It is an insult to the country, an insult to all of India and to the Bengali community. My entire family was hurt," he said.

The BJP legislator added that he had emailed Sonia Gandhi directly and marked a copy to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

"I emailed the person responsible and sent a copy to the head of her party," he said, adding that he had not written to the President or any other constitutional authority.

In his letter, Chatterjee recalled Vande Mataram's role in India's freedom movement, referring to its rendition by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress session, its recital by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani during the 1905 Benares session and its use as a rallying cry by nationalist movements across the country.

'CONGRESS TRUNCATED THE SONG IN 1937'

He also accused the Congress of repeating what he described as its historical compromise over the song, alleging that the party had truncated Vande Mataram in 1937 following objections raised by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Calling Vande Mataram a sacred national symbol that belongs to every Indian rather than any political party, Chatterjee said respecting the song was synonymous with respecting the country's freedom struggle.

He appealed to Sonia Gandhi to introspect and tender an unconditional apology to all Indians, especially the people of West Bengal, over the alleged incident.

- Ends