Srinagar: Below is the weeklong timeline of some of the defined moment witnessed this week:-
1. PM Modi Slams Nehru On Vande Mataram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused Jawaharlal Nehru of echoing Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s opposition to Vande Mataram, claiming it could “irritate Muslims.” Modi said Nehru’s stance led to the fragmentation of the national song and paved the way for politics of appeasement, eventually contributing to India’s Partition.
2. Congress Accused of Appeasement In Vande Mataram Debate: Addressing the Lok Sabha during the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, PM Modi said the Congress compromised on the song under the guise of social harmony. “Under the pressure of appeasement politics, the Congress bent and agreed to break Vande Mataram to pieces,” he alleged.
3. Vande Mataram|Source Of National Strength: Modi highlighted that Vande Mataram has inspired India through critical moments in history—from the freedom struggle to wars and the fight against COVID-19. He described the song as a mantra for courage, unity, and the vision of a “Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
4. Historical Context Of The Vande Mataram: The Prime Minister recalled that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote Vande Mataram in 1875, which challenged British colonial rule. He noted that even the British banned its printing to curb nationalist sentiment. Modi also referenced Mahatma Gandhi’s praise of the song as akin to a national anthem.
5. 100-Year Anniversary During Emergency: PM Modi lamented that when Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the nation was under Emergency, with the Constitution “throttled” and patriots imprisoned. He called the current 150th anniversary an opportunity to restore the song’s greatness and reaffirm its role as a symbol of national unity and inspiration.
