'Bitter disdain persists': BJP slams Shashi Tharoor over Vande Mataram remark

TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Aug 11, 2026, 17:50 IST Comments Share AA Text Size Small Medium Large 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 National 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 National 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. He said the amended provision requires the full National Song to be sung at the beginning and end of official functions, in addition to the National Anthem."The President has assented to the #VandeMataram Amendment, passed without discussion in Parliament, which requires the singing of the National Song in full at the start and ending of any official function, in addition to the National Anthem."As one who greatly respects both, and can sing the first two stanzas of the former (but not the other four, which were never required till now) as well as the entire anthem, i would like to point to just one practical consideration our zealots appear to have overlooked: human nature," Tharoor added."'Jana Gana Mana' requires audiences to stand respectfully and focus their attention for a reasonable 52 seconds. The National Song in full takes 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Tamil Nadu has just decided that both will be preceded by the State Song in Tamil for another 2 minutes. Do we really expect audiences to stand still and respectfully for six minutes before and after every function, a total of 12 extra minutes? Can respect and patience be legislated? I fear that the intent of the Bill, to promote greater respect for the National Song, will not be achieved, but its opposite may well be," he further said. President Droupadi Murmu had given her assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending statutory protection under the law to the national song Vande Mataram.The national song Vande Mataram will be sung during the Independence Day celebrations at the iconic Red Fort on August 15.The Union government announced on Monday that this year's celebrations will focus on the contribution of India's youth towards achieving the goal of a developed nation, or 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. 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