New Delhi, Dec. 9 — BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Monday accused the Congress of “always being anti-women,” alleging that the party removed portions of Vande Mataram referencing Goddess Durga. She said the national song—described by her as a spark of the freedom struggle—was finally receiving proper recognition.
“It is a matter of pride for the country that the song which rose as a spark of the freedom struggle and reduced the British empire to ashes is now receiving its due credit,” Ranaut told reporters outside Parliament. “The Congress government had removed the portion mentioning Goddess Durga. Congress has always been anti-women.”
Her comments came as the Lok Sabha held a special debate on the national song during the ongoing Winter Session.
Ranaut’s remarks follow sustained criticism from BJP leaders, who have alleged that the Congress altered the original composition for political considerations. In November, BJP leader C.R. Kesavan claimed Jawaharlal Nehru oversaw the exclusion of stanzas invoking Goddess Durga in 1937 “to appease communal groups,” a claim that reignited arguments over the national song’s history.
With the debate marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the House earlier in the day that the song served as a “powerful mantra” for India’s freedom movement and that the government aimed to restore its resonance for future generations.
