'Bitter disdain persists': BJP slams Shashi Tharoor over Vande Mataram remark
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Join conversation View All Comments โ Share your thoughts in the comments Insightful Agree Disagree Skeptical Concerning Promising Worth Reading Big Development Post Comment Be respectful ยท TOI community guidelines NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for claiming that standing through the full rendition of Vande Mataram pushes the limits of human endurance.BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said that Tharoor's remark was at odds with the sacrifices of the freedom fighters who gave their lives for the country's independence while uttering "Vande Mataram.""Senior Congress leader states that the full original rendition of Vande Mataram, which takes 3 minutes and 10 seconds, is too lengthy for people to stand through respectfully and patiently," Kesavan said in a social media post on X."Is this not extremely ironic coming from the servile Congress party, which for more than 75 long years has patiently and sycophantically been kowtowing to the Nehru-Gandhi first family. Such callous remarks deeply dishonour and disrespect the selfless sacrifices of generations of freedom fighters who patriotically gave up their lives uttering "Vande Mataram" for our nation's independence," he added.Kesavan also accused Congress of showing disdain towards the song, claiming that the hesitance stems from appeasement politics and discomfort with traditional national symbols."From Nehru's Congress which truncated Vande Mataram to Rahul Gandhi, bitter disdain and antipathy of the Congress party against Vande Mataram persists.
In a letter dated June 21, 1948, to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Jawaharlal Nehru with his Macaulay colonial mindset said Vande Mataram's tune was not suitable for foreign orchestra and bands. Nehru demeaned Vande Mataram stating it was unfit to be our Anthem," the BJP spokesperson said."We are truly thankful to PM @narendramodi ji for restoring the respect and honour of Vande Mataram and making sure it is rendered in its glorious original form at public events - and for the first time ever at the Red Fort this Independence Day. PM Modi ji has ensured a fitting tribute to the generations of brave heroes and heroines who selflessly sacrificed for our nation's freedom," he added.Earlier in the day, Tharoor questioned the practical implications of the Vande Mataram amendment, saying the requirement to sing the Song in full at official functions could result in audiences standing for several minutes before and after events.In a post on X, Tharoor said the President had assented to the amendment, which was passed in Parliament without discussion.