Amit Shah fights back against Priyanka Gandhi on Vande Mataram and attacks Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today that the national song is not just for Bengal and that making it political is a bad idea. This was in response to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's claim that the NDA government wanted to talk about Vande Mataram in Parliament because of the upcoming West Bengal elections.

The Home Minister said that some people have questioned the need for a discussion to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram, but he did not name Priyanka Gandhi.  He said, "There was a need for a discussion on Vande Mataram and dedication towards Vande Mataram when it was written, when India became free, today, and would remain even in 2047." He also said that those who don't understand why Vande Bharat is being discussed need to think about it.

"Some people think that the discussion about Vande Mataram is happening because the polls in Bengal are coming up.  They want to take away Vande Mataram's glory by tying it to elections.  Bankim Babu, who wrote Vande Mataram, was born in Bengal, but the song did not stay in Bengal or India.  When Indian freedom fighters met in secret places around the world, they said "Vande Mataram."  "Even now, when our soldiers at the borders and those in charge of internal security die, the words on their lips are Vande Mataram," Shah told the Rajya Sabha.

Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress general secretary and MP for Wayanad, spoke to the House yesterday and said that the government was talking about Vande Mataram with the Bengal elections next year in mind.  "This song has been in our hearts for more than 150 years.  For 75 years, our country has been free.  What is the point of this debate right now?  If we didn't talk about this, you wouldn't agree to a debate on electoral reforms.  This is the song of our country.  What is the argument?  Priyanka Gandhi wanted to know.  She said the government wants to take people's minds off of important issues.  "Your goal is to keep us in the past because this government doesn't want to look at the present or the future," she said. 

Shah said that the government isn't afraid of arguments and talks.  "We don't stay away from Parliament.  If the opposition lets Parliament do its job, all issues will be talked about.  "We have nothing to hide," he said.