Sonia’s Vande Mataram opposition shows Cong still trapped in appeasement politics: Maurya

Prayagraj: Attacking Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her alleged objection to the full rendition of Vande Mataram at an Independence Day event, deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said the incident has exposed the party’s anti-national face and appeasement politics.“Mere mention of Vande Mataram triggers panic and unease within the Gandhi family and the Congress party... Appeasement has been a constant trait of the Congress since its inception, both before and after Independence. Consequently, the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, has failed to shake off this legacy to this day,” Maurya said.Maurya said, “In his work Anand Math, the revered Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay likened Mother India (Maa Bharati) to Goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi, a comparison that transformed ‘Vande Mataram’ into a powerful rallying cry for freedom fighters during the struggle for Independence. However, the All India Muslim League and Mohammad Ali Jinnah opposed Vande Mataram during that struggle, and their opposition effectively meant opposition from the Congress, which conducted its politics at their behest.”He said that even today, in its pursuit of the Muslim vote bank, the Congress remains trapped in that same vortex, perpetuating that vile mindset and fueling a climate of hatred.“The recent events at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day have exposed the anti-national face of the Gandhi family and the Congress... The Congress, which for decades restricted Vande Mataram to just its first two stanzas, is now agitated at the prospect of the full song being sung,” he added.He also stated that post-Independence govts enjoyed the fruits of power but gave no thought to the welfare of the nation. “Our govt is resolved not to compromise the national interest for the sake of vote-bank politics,” said Maurya.Praising PM Narendra Modi, he said, “On Independence Day, the strains of the national song Vande Mataram, resounding from the ramparts of the Red Fort, have filled the entire nation with patriotism and immense pride.”Stay updated with the latest Prayagraj news. Download the TOI App.