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Sonia Gandhi had fielded Ahmed Patel to clarify that Congress respected Vande Mataram, but also maintained that no one could be forced to sing it if it hurt religious sentiments.
Congress MPs Sonia and Rahul Gandhi (File Photo)
Way back in 2006, the Congress was mired in controversy over Vande Mataram. Both the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had skipped a CWC and AICC session where Vande Mataram was not sung. The BJP immediately pounced on the Congress, accusing it of pandering to minority votes and disrespecting India’s legacy and history for political gains.
Many among Muslims have objected to Vande Mataram on the grounds that the national song, which was a rallying cry during the freedom movement, pays an ode to the motherland depicted as Goddess Durga — something they believe goes against the basic tenets of Islam, which prohibits idol worship.
At the time, the Congress was caught in a bind. With regional parties like the SP eating into its minority vote base, the party was struggling to retain constituencies. This was also when the Indo–US nuclear deal was being negotiated — a move opposed by Iran, which had voted against it. A delegation had even met Sonia Gandhi to register their protest over India’s perceived proximity to the US.
The Congress leadership found itself on a tightrope — not wanting to alienate minorities, yet wary of appearing as a party disrespecting the national song and the freedom movement, especially since the Congress has always taken pride in its role in India’s independence struggle, unlike the BJP.
Sonia Gandhi had then fielded the late Ahmed Patel, her political secretary, to clarify that the Congress respected the national song, but also maintained that no one could be forced to sing it if it hurt their religious sentiments.
Now, as the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram, the Congress once again finds itself at a crossroads — especially with the Bihar polls approaching. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge issued a statement attacking the BJP while reiterating that the party has always respected and sung the national song. Kharge said, “The RSS and BJP continue to sing Namaste Sada Vatsale, a song glorifying their organisation, not the nation. Since its founding, the RSS has avoided Vande Mataram despite its universal reverence.”
But history has a way of catching up. The dilemma that haunted the Congress in 2006 has resurfaced in 2025, as the party once again struggles to retain its space among Muslim voters — this time in Bihar.
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Read More
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Read More
November 07, 2025, 14:34 IST
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