Haryana Committed to Development, Good Governance and Inclusive Growth; Constructive Suggestions Welcomed in the House
Congress Compromised on Vande Mataram Under Political Pressure in 1937, Truncated the National Song- Saini
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
During the ongoing Budget Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said that the address delivered by Governor Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh on February 20 presents a clear vision of the State’s present status and future direction, and lays down a comprehensive roadmap for building a Viksit Haryana.
Participating in the discussion on the Governor’s Address, the Chief Minister said the speech reflects Haryana’s firm resolve to move ahead on the path of development, good governance, social justice and inclusive growth. He expressed gratitude to the Governor for presenting a detailed and forward-looking outline for the State.
The Chief Minister said that the concept of a developed Haryana is intrinsically linked with the vision of a developed India. Referring to the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, he said, Haryana stands at the forefront in contributing to this national mission.
Welcoming the constructive suggestions put forward by several members during the discussion, the Chief Minister said such inputs help strengthen governance and policy-making for the welfare of the people. At the same time, he noted that some Opposition members levelled allegations against the government.
Chief Minister made a strong statement against the Congress while speaking on the completion of 150 years of Vande Mataram, alleging that the party had compromised on the National Song in 1937 under pressure from the Muslim League and allowed appeasement politics to override national sentiment.
He said it is a matter of immense pride that this year’s Budget Session began with the singing of Vande Mataram. Responding to remarks from certain opposition members, he said that those who are questioning its singing today must reflect on their own historical record. He stated that the completion of 150 years of Vande Mataram is not merely a ceremonial milestone, but a 150-year saga of national awakening, sacrifice, and cultural self-respect.
Describing Vande Mataram as the soul of the nation and the spiritual force behind India’s freedom struggle, the Chief Minister said the chant gave courage to break the chains of slavery and ignited the fire of sacrifice in millions of Indians. He noted that as the country celebrates 75 years of the Constitution and marks the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda, along with the 350th martyrdom year of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 150 years of Vande Mataram reaffirm that India’s identity rests not only on political freedom but also on cultural pride.
The Chief Minister recalled that Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and made public on November 7, 1875, became a symbol of patriotism and national consciousness. He referred to its historic rendering by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896 at the Congress session, the publication of the newspaper Vande Mataram edited by Sri Aurobindo in 1907, and the full rendition by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani in 1905. He also mentioned that even during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, when India’s hockey team won gold under British rule, the song resonated with patriotic emotion.
He further recalled that on August 15, 1947, at the request of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Pandit Omkar Nath Thakur sang Vande Mataram on All India Radio, moving the nation, and that on January 24, 1950, it was accorded equal respect to the National Anthem and declared the National Song by the Constituent Assembly.
Referring to the historical controversies, the Chief Minister said that in 1937, under opposition from the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Congress leadership, instead of firmly defending the song, initiated a review. He stated that then Congress President Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to Subhas Chandra Bose expressing concerns that the background of Anand Math might offend Muslims. Subsequently, on October 26, 1937, the Congress Working Committee reviewed the matter and truncated Vande Mataram.
This was the moment when Congress chose political appeasement over national pride, the Chief Minister said, adding that history bears witness to the compromise made under pressure. He termed it a painful chapter in which a sentiment equivalent to a national song was drawn into controversy.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Chief Minister said that in the December 2, 1905 edition of Indian Opinion, Gandhiji had described Vande Mataram as the soul of the Swadeshi movement and praised its patriotic and devotional spirit. He questioned why a song that Gandhiji regarded as an expression of the national soul was later subjected to political compromise.
The Chief Minister emphasized that when Vande Mataram completed 50 years, India was under colonial rule, and when it completed 100 years, the country witnessed the Emergency. Now, as it completes 150 years, he said, it is an opportunity to restore its full glory, reawaken national consciousness, and reaffirm that India will never compromise on its core values.
Saini said that there is no ruling side or opposition on the spirit of Vande Mataram, as all elected representatives owe a collective debt to the unity it inspired from north to south and east to west during the freedom struggle. Calling upon MLAs across party lines, the Chief Minister announced that various programmes will be organized throughout the year in Haryana and across the country to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram and inspire youth with renewed patriotism. He urged all legislators to actively participate in these programmes and carry forward the spirit of unity, self-reliance, and the resolve to build a developed India by 2047.