Congress should apologise for insulting Vande Mataram on Independence Day: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Congress party of insulting the national song 'Vande Mataram' during Independence Day celebrations. He demanded an apology from the party leadership, citing the song's historical significance in the Indian freedom struggle.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing political polarization in India, where nationalistic symbols are frequently used as points of contention between ruling and opposition parties.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (August 16, 2026) accused the Congress of insulting the national song 'Vande Mataram' and demanded that the party apologise to the people and to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay who wrote the song.
Addressing a public meeting in Chittorgarh, Mr. Shah alleged that during the Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters, party leader Sonia Gandhi asked Vande Mataram to be stopped midway through the song.
The Home Minister alleged that the Congress had forgotten Vande Mataram due to vote-bank politics.
Referring to the Independence Day celebrations held on Saturday (August 15, 2026), Mr. Shah said that after 80 years of Independence, Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort and at all other places where flag hoisting was held.
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