'Kaun baithayega?': Rajnath Singh confronts Opposition during 'Vande Mataram' debate
What's the story
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lost his temper while addressing the Lok Sabha on the national song Vande Mataram. He was interrupted by Opposition lawmakers, leading him to ask, "Kaun baithanewala hai? Kaun baithayega?" (Who is going to make me sit?). The incident was caught on video and shared by NDTV. "How dare you!" Singh asserted in Hindi and asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to intervene.
Political criticism
Singh criticizes Congress for 'fragmentation' of Vande Mataram
In his speech, Singh slammed the Congress for "fragmentation" of the national song, attributing it to "appeasement politics" that began during Jawaharlal Nehru's time. He called for restoring Vande Mataram's glory and said it was a demand of morality. Singh argued that the injustice done to Vande Mataram was not an isolated incident but part of appeasement politics by Congress. He stressed that an unbiased evaluation of Vande Mataram is needed, as most parts are forgotten and depict India's essence.
Historical significance
PM Modi highlights Vande Mataram's role in freedom struggle
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke on the issue, emphasizing Vande Mataram's role in India's freedom struggle. He called it a sacred war cry against colonialism and said its 150th anniversary is a historic occasion. Modi slammed Congress for dropping important stanzas during their 1937 session, accusing them of appeasement politics. The debate comes amid political tensions over the national song ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Bengal.
Political response
Congress leader accuses Centre of politicizing Vande Mataram debate
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Centre of politicizing the Vande Mataram debate ahead of elections. She alleged PM Modi selectively quoted Nehru, asserting that there is no scope for a debate, that the song is "alive in every part of the country." Vadra said the government "wanted debate on Vande Mataram because the Bengal polls are coming soon...The government wants us to keep delving in past because it does not want to look at present and future."