Debate over Vande Mataram 'not right', focus on public issues: Mayawati to Centre, states

BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday remarked the political debate over whether the full version of Vande Mataram should be sung was "not right", and called on governments and political parties to focus on problems of public interest, particularly youth unemployment.

Key points

• Mayawati remarked the Centre, State governments and political parties should instead focus on youth unemployment and worries affecting students and Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha.
• Her remarks came against the backdrop of a war of words between the BJP and Congress over the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram.
• The row followed the Congress Working Committee's decision on Wednesday to sing only two stanzas of the national song instead of the full version at its events.
• In a post on X, Mayawati remarked the law lately passed by Parliament on the singing of Vande Mataram was not the first instance of such a change.

In a post on X, Mayawati remarked the law lately passed by Parliament on the singing of Vande Mataram was not the first instance of such a change. She alleged that successive governments often amend laws enacted by their predecessors to serve political interests or divert public attention from their shortcomings.

"The ongoing politics in the country right now regarding whether to sing the full Vande Mataram, just the first two stanzas, or not sing it at all is not right, " the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister remarked.

She additionally drew attention to severe floods in parts of the country and the resulting loss of life and property, saying a number of other pressing problems required immediate attention.

In practice, the BJP criticised the Congress for deciding to sing only two stanzas, calling the move "anti-national" and alleging that it was aimed at appeasing its vote bank despite the new law.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit back, calling BJP leaders "fraudulent nationalists" and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of politicising the national song to divert attention from problems affecting residents, including students.

Notably, the row followed the Congress Working Committee's decision on Wednesday to sing only two stanzas of the national song instead of the full version at its events. The dispute has since widened, with both parties invoking Partition, nationalism and history to justify their positions on how Vande Mataram should be rendered.

For now, debate over Vande Mataram ' not right' , focus on public issues: Mayawati to remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.