‘Shameless repetition’: Bankim Chattopadhyay’s descendant seeks Sonia Gandhi’s apology over Vande Mataram row

Sumitro Chatterjee, a BJP MLA and direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has called for an unconditional apology from Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. The demand stems from an alleged incident during the Congress party's Independence Day event at the AICC headquarters on August 15.

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not merely unfortunate but a shameless repetition of a historical mistake

Chatterjee, representing Naihati, described the alleged incident as a "shameless repetition of a historical mistake." He claimed that there was noticeable "discomfort" and repeated attempts to halt the singing of the complete version of the national song, "Vande Mataram," during the event.

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deep pain, emptiness, and anger

However, the Congress party has refuted these claims. A party spokesperson stated that Sonia Gandhi was merely gesturing to request a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and there was no intention to stop the singing of "Vande Mataram."

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Vande Mataram was only being played, and Gandhi was asking for a chair for Kharge.

Chatterjee invoked historical context, referencing the song's significance in India's freedom movement and its role in nationalist gatherings. He criticized the Congress's alleged "dual policy" towards the song, drawing parallels to a 1937 decision to truncate "Vande Mataram" following objections from Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He argued that the song is a national symbol and a legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, not the property of any single political party.

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history forgives no one