Sat Nov 08 02:51:21 UTC 2025: News Article:

BJP, TMC Clash Over ‘Vande Mataram’ Anniversary in West Bengal

Kolkata – November 8, 2025 – The 150th anniversary of India’s national song, “Vande Mataram,” sparked political clashes in West Bengal on Friday, November 7th, 2025, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of disrespecting the national icon, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the song’s author.

Led by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, the BJP organized processions and celebrations in over 1500 locations across the state. Adhikari expressed outrage over a perceived lack of respect for Chattopadhyay, highlighting a closed park and the absence of garlands at the statue of the revered writer. He also criticized the TMC for mandating Rabindranath Tagore’s song as the official state song in schools, arguing “Vande Mataram” should have been given priority.

Meanwhile, the TMC countered the BJP’s claims, holding a press conference where Minister Sashi Panja condemned alleged derogatory remarks made by a BJP MP from Karnataka against Tagore. Educational Minister Bratya Basu accused the BJP of attempting to divide two of Bengal’s greatest figures, Chattopadhyay and Tagore, suggesting the party’s ideology clashes with Tagore’s Brahmo faith.

The controversy also extends beyond West Bengal, with the TMC referencing a recent FIR filed in Assam against a Congress leader for singing Bangladesh’s national anthem, also penned by Tagore. This incident has further fueled the debate, with members of civil society protesting the action. The anniversary celebrations have therefore become a flashpoint for political tensions between the BJP and TMC, reflecting deeper ideological differences and historical interpretations.

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