Daijiworld Media Network - Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh, Aug 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over an alleged interruption of the national song Vande Mataram during the party's Independence Day celebrations at its headquarters, demanding that the party apologise for what he described as disrespect to the national song.

Addressing a gathering in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh, Shah said the country would not forgive Congress for the "sin" of stopping Vande Mataram midway.

Referring to the Congress' Independence Day programme at its headquarters, Shah said senior party leaders were seen interacting while Vande Mataram was being played. The BJP has alleged that Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi objected to the full version of the song and gestured to the Congress president to stop it.

Shah said that after 80 years of Independence, the full version of Vande Mataram was played at events across the country on August 15.

"Congress forgot Vande Mataram... Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's immortal creation -- those two words of the song, Vande Mataram, meaning 'I bow to thee, Mother India' -- while chanting these words, thousands and lakhs of freedom fighters went to the gallows, faced bullets and lathis, and spent years in prison. However, for its vote bank politics, Congress forgot Vande Mataram," he said.

Taking aim at Sonia Gandhi, Shah said, "Look at their (Congress') shamefulness. While Vande Mataram was being played at Congress headquarters, their leader, Sonia ji, asked the Congress President to stop the song. We all saw it on TV."

"After 80 years, when Bankim Babu's immortal song is being accorded respect, Sonia ji is not finding it to her liking. Sonia ji, 140 crore people are watching you. The people of this country will never forgive this sin you have committed," he added.

Shah said Congress should be "ashamed" of the incident and questioned how anyone could think of leaving the singing of Vande Mataram incomplete.

"If there is even a shred of shame left, one should fold one's hands and apologise to the immortal soul of Bankim Babu and to the people," he said.

The Home Minister was speaking at an event in Chittorgarh district where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma welcomed Shah by presenting him with a traditional turban, or safa.

On the occasion, Shah also unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, marking his death anniversary.