New Delhi, Friday, November 7: BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan on Friday alleged that the Congress party deliberately modified the national song Vande Mataram during the pre-independence era by removing stanzas that praised Goddess Durga, claiming the move was made in 1937 under Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership to appease certain communal groups.
Kesavan stated that only the first two stanzas of the song were accepted by the Congress at its 1937 Faizpur Session, while verses invoking Goddess Durga were omitted. He alleged that this decision was taken “to suit communal considerations,” sparking a wider debate over the song’s original intent and form.
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Kesavan wrote, “It is imperative for our younger generation to know how the Congress party brazenly pandered to its communal agenda under Nehru’s presidency, adopting only a truncated version of Vande Mataram as the party’s national song in 1937. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 150th year commemoration with a mass recital of the full version across the nation.”
It is imperative for our younger generation to know how the Congress party brazenly pandering to its communal agenda under the Presidentship of Nehru, adopted only a truncated Vande Mataram as the party’s national song in its 1937 Faizpur Session , while PM @narendramodi ji today… pic.twitter.com/13NBta11OV
— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) November 7, 2025
He further contrasted the Congress-era decision with the current government’s 150-year celebration of Vande Mataram, which includes a nationwide recital of the full version, led by Prime Minister Modi.
Kesavan asserted that the Congress “committed a historic sin and blunder” by linking the song with religion, arguing that Vande Mataram was meant to symbolize national unity, cultural pride, and patriotism.
“The glorious Vande Mataram became the voice of our nation’s unity and solidarity, celebrating our motherland, instilling nationalistic spirit, and fostering patriotism. It did not belong to any particular religion or language. But the Congress, under Nehru, citing religious grounds, deliberately removed stanzas that hailed Goddess Ma Durga,” Kesavan posted.
He added that while chanting Vande Mataram was made a criminal offence by the British, the Congress’s decision to alter it undermined its historical and cultural spirit.
The remarks come as part of the BJP’s broader narrative emphasizing national identity and cultural heritage, coinciding with the government’s large-scale commemoration of Vande Mataram’s 150th anniversary.
