Fri Nov 07 17:54:13 UTC 2025: News Article Summary:
Gehlot Accuses BJP of Politicizing Vande Mataram Anniversary, Erasing Congress Legacy
Jaipur, November 7, 2025 – Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Congress) has accused the BJP-led central government of politicizing the 150th anniversary celebrations of the national song, Vande Mataram, and attempting to diminish the legacy of the independence movement. Gehlot alleged the BJP and RSS had no connection to the freedom struggle and were trying to rewrite history. He pointed to the RSS’s past actions, including their alleged collaboration with British rule, reluctance to hoist the tricolor, and opposition to the Constitution, highlighting the irony of them now claiming figures like Sardar Patel as their own.
The BJP responded sharply, with Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari accusing Gehlot of distorting history and politicizing the national song. Tiwari stated the BJP views Vande Mataram as a symbol of national unity and invited Congress to participate in the celebrations.
Rewritten News Article:
Congress Leader Accuses BJP of Rewriting History Amid Vande Mataram Celebrations
Jaipur, India – November 7, 2025 – A political storm is brewing in India as the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of its national song, Vande Mataram. Ashok Gehlot, a veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of exploiting the anniversary to diminish the legacy of India’s independence movement and promote their own agenda.
Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, Gehlot claimed the BJP, alongside its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had no legitimate claim to the freedom struggle. “There is an attempt to forget the glorious tradition of sacrifice, penance, and devotion associated with our freedom,” Gehlot stated. He highlighted the RSS’s historical actions, alleging collaboration with the British, reluctance to embrace the national flag and Constitution, and historical opposition to figures like Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar.
Gehlot argued that the BJP’s focus on religious nationalism was being used to erase the Congress’s role in the independence movement. He specifically challenged the RSS to demonstrate their allegiance to Vande Mataram, questioning whether the song had ever been sung or even discussed at RSS gatherings.
The BJP swiftly responded to Gehlot’s accusations. Ghanshyam Tiwari, a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, dismissed Gehlot’s claims as a “distortion of history,” arguing that the Congress leader was dragging the national song into unnecessary political disputes. Tiwari further stated the BJP views Vande Mataram as a unifying national symbol, accusing Congress of distancing themselves from the event out of political spite. “If Mr. Gehlot and Congress truly felt patriotic, they should have participated in this event and stood with the country,” he stated.
The controversy highlights the deep-seated political divisions in India and the ongoing battle to define the nation’s historical narrative. The disagreement over the celebration of Vande Mataram raises questions about national identity, political opportunism, and the delicate balance between patriotism and partisan politics.
First Piper 