Bankim descendant seeks Sonia apology over ‘Vande Mataram’ row
A descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay has demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi following a controversy over the rendition of 'Vande Mataram' at a Congress event. BJP leaders allege that Gandhi attempted to stop the song, while Congress maintains she was merely assisting a colleague.
Why it matters
Reflects the ongoing political tension in India regarding national symbols and the intersection of historical legacy with contemporary political discourse.
NEW DELHI: The row over the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day acquired a Bankim Chandra connection on, with BJP’s Naihati MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a direct descendant of the national song’s author, writing to Sonia Gandhi on Saturday and demanding an unconditional apology to the country, particularly West Bengal.The controversy erupted after a video from the Congress’s August 15 function showed Sonia gesturing and speaking to party president Mallikarjun Kharge while the full version of Vande Mataram was being sung. BJP leaders alleged she was trying to have the rendition stopped after the opening stanzas.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in