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Indranil Khan accused those questioning the song of insulting the national song and said there was no need to take lessons on freedom, independence or patriotism from them.
The latest controversy comes amid a political row over an incident at the Congress headquarters during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
The controversy over Vande Mataram intensified on Friday after West Bengal Minister Indranil Khan criticised veteran actor Sharmila Tagore over her recent remarks on the national song.
Khan said the BJP did not need to take lessons in patriotism from Tagore or the Congress, arguing that the freedom fighters who drew inspiration from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Anandamath and carried Vande Mataram in their hearts were the ones who fought for India’s independence.
“Is it from Sharmila Tagore or the Congress that we have to learn patriotism?” Khan said, questioning Tagore’s comments on the song.
“We have to learn from those who gave freedom to all of us from the British, not from those who don’t know what freedom is,” he added.
Khan further accused those questioning the song of insulting the national song and said there was no need to take lessons on freedom, independence or patriotism from them.
West Bengal BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya said, “It is the personal opinion of Sharmila Tagore and she can give it. But the People of India want to remind Sharmila Tagore that Taimur destroyed temples in India, massacred people, and forcibly converted people. He also committed rape and torture, that is written in the pages of history. He is in her house, the same Taimur name, so it is better to speak less about Vande Mataram”
What Did Sharmila Tagore Say?
Sharmila Tagore said her concerns about Vande Mataram stemmed from the religious references in some of its verses.
“My point of view is that there are many religious people who believe in one single God, not many Gods. In Vande Mataram, there is a stanza which says that many Gods are mentioned in Vande Mataram,” she said.
Tagore said this could make it difficult for people belonging to certain faiths to identify with references such as “Vande Kali” and “Vande Durga”.
“Therefore, if we take all the religious people in India together, the first two stanzas are very good,” she added.
Kangana Ranaut Reacts
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut also weighed in on the controversy, saying Vande Mataram should not be interpreted solely through a religious lens.
Ranaut shared a video of Tagore’s interview on her Instagram Stories on Thursday. While saying she respected Tagore’s right to have reservations about the national song, Ranaut disagreed with the veteran actor’s interpretation of the poem.
How Did The Vande Mataram Row Begin?
The latest controversy comes amid a political row over an incident at the Congress headquarters during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
Video footage showed Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi conversing while Vande Mataram was being rendered during the event. The BJP criticised the Congress leadership over the footage, accusing it of disrespecting the national song and demanding a public apology.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The later verses of Vande Mataram include explicit references to Hindu deities, comparing the nation directly to Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
Ask News18About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, national current affairs, and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking power shifts, election strateg…Read More
August 21, 2026, 21:59 IST
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