BJP MP’s statement on national anthem draws sharp criticism from Congress

BJP MP from Uttara Kannada Vishveshwara Kageri sparked a controversy by claiming that the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” was “originally written to welcome British officials” and that “Vande Mataram” should have been chosen as India’s national anthem instead. The former Assembly Speaker and MP’s statement came at an event in Honnavar to mark 150 years of “Vande Mataram”.

The MP’s remark drew sharp criticism from RDPR and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge, who called it “WhatsApp history lesson” and “utter nonsense.”

Responding in a post on X, Mr. Kharge wrote, “Another day, another RSS ‘WhatsApp history’ lesson. BJP MP Sri Kageri now claims our National Anthem is ‘British.’” He pointed out that Rabindranath Tagore had himself clarified in 1937 and 1939 that it hails the “Dispenser of India’s destiny” and “could never be George V, George VI, or any other George” as claimed by Mr. Kageri and falsely claimed on social media.

Targeting the RSS, Mr. Kharge claimed the organisation had a “tradition of disrespecting the Constitution, the tricolour and the National Anthem.”

Labour Minister Santosh Lad also questioned Mr. Kageri’s sudden change in stance. “Their (BJP’s) contribution to the freedom movement itself is nothing. Earlier, he himself would sing Jana Gana Mana. Why is he doing this suddenly?” Mr. Lad asked.