Prime Minister Modi initiated a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram. In his hour-long speech, he said, "Vande Mataram was a befitting reply to the British, and this slogan continues to inspire even today. Mahatma Gandhi also liked it during the freedom struggle. He saw this song as a national anthem."

The Prime Minister said that the power of this song was immense for him. Then why was so much injustice done to it in the past decades? Why was Vande Mataram betrayed? What was that force that overpowered even the sentiments of revered Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi)?

In his hour-long speech, PM Modi mentioned Vande Mataram 121 times, the country 50 times, India 35 times, the British 34 times, Bengal 17 times, and Congress 13 times. He mentioned the creator of Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, 10 times, Nehru 7 times, Mahatma Gandhi 6 times, the Muslim League 5 times, Jinnah 3 times, the Constitution 3 times, Muslims 2 times, and appeasement 3 times.

Nehru bowed before Jinnah

Modi said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah raised a slogan against Vande Mataram from Lucknow on October 15, 1936. The then Congress president, Jawaharlal Nehru, felt his position was threatened.

The PM said that instead of giving a strong reply to the baseless statements of the Muslim League and condemning them, the opposite happened. He started an inquiry into Vande Mataram itself.

6 major points from the PM's speech:

Remembering Vande Mataram is a great privilege for this House: "It is a great privilege for all of us in this House to remember Vande Mataram, the mantra, the slogan that energized and inspired the country's freedom movement, and showed the path of sacrifice and penance."
India is progressing rapidly on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram: When Vande Mataram completed 50 years, the country was shackled in the chains of slavery. When it completed 100 years, the country was in the darkness of the Emergency. Today, as it completes 150 years, India has become the world's fifth-largest economy and is growing rapidly.
He narrated an anecdote from 1906: While recounting an incident related to Vande Mataram, he said that on May 20, 1906, a Vande Mataram procession was taken out in Barisal (now in Bangladesh), in which more than 10,000 people took to the streets. People of all religions and castes, including Hindus and Muslims, marched on the streets holding Vande Mataram flags.

Vande Mataram became the slogan of every street in Bengal: Our brave sons would climb the gallows without any fear and chanted Vande Mataram until their last breath. Countless freedom fighters embraced death while chanting Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram became the slogan of every street for the unity of Bengal, and this slogan inspired Bengal.

Nehru bowed down to the Muslim League: Jawaharlal Nehru saw his throne shaking. Instead of giving a strong reply to the baseless statements of the Muslim League and condemning them, the opposite happened. He started investigating Vande Mataram itself. Nehru wrote a letter to Netaji five days later. In it, agreeing with Jinnah's sentiments, he wrote that the Anandamath background of Vande Mataram could hurt the feelings of Muslims. He wrote – this background will provoke the Muslims. The Congress issued a statement that a meeting of the Congress Working Committee would be held on October 26 to review the use of Vande Mataram.
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People took out processions across the country against this proposal, but the Congress fragmented Vande Mataram. History is witness that the Congress bowed down to the Muslim League.

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INC has become an MNC: Congress has outsourced, unfortunately, the policies of Congress remain the same. INC has become an MNC. Whoever Congress associates with, they create controversy over Vande Mataram. When the time of trial comes, it is then that it is proven how resolute and strong we are.
Discussion in Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram

On Monday, the sixth day of the winter session of Parliament, a discussion is being held in the Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. Ten hours have been allotted for this discussion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the discussion at 12 noon. Gaurav Gogoi, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha from the main opposition party Congress, was the first to speak.

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The Government of India is organizing a year-long program to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram. On December 2, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla convened a meeting of representatives from all parties. It was decided in this meeting that a discussion on Vande Mataram would be held in the Lok Sabha on December 8 and in the Rajya Sabha on December 9.

Today is the fourth day of the Parliament's winter session. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the central government regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.

He said, "The central government doesn't want me to meet people coming from abroad. Modi ji and the Ministry of External Affairs don't follow this rule. This is their insecurity."

Rahul added, "We all have relationships with other countries. The Leader of the Opposition offers a different perspective. We also represent India; it's not just the government that does."

Rahul further stated...

"It's usually the tradition that whoever comes from abroad meets the Leader of the Opposition. This happened during the governments of Vajpayee ji and Manmohan Singh ji. It has been a tradition, but nowadays, when foreign guests come or when I go abroad, the central government advises them not to meet the Leader of the Opposition. This is their policy, and they always do this."

Meanwhile, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov arrived at Parliament on Thursday morning.
Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "I have given a notice for suspension of business today demanding a discussion on Delhi's air pollution. People are facing a lot of problems. Children are having difficulty breathing. This is a huge health crisis."

Regarding the rupee's exchange rate against the dollar, he said, "It's very strange that when the rupee was below 60, they used to talk about the times of Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, but now the rupee has reached 90. Now, which era are they comparing it to?"

Priyanka's question: Rupee crosses 90 against the dollar, what will the government answer now?
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "A few years ago, when the value of the dollar increased against the rupee during Manmohan Singh's time, the BJP made it an issue. Now the rupee is above 90 against the dollar. What is their answer to this?"

Sonia says: Government should take immediate steps on Delhi pollution
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi demanded that the central government take immediate action on Delhi's pollution. He said, "Children are dying, and the elderly are also having difficulty breathing. It is the government's responsibility to do something; the Prime Minister should stop making statements and solve the problem."

Read Also : IndiGo cancels 300 flights due to staff shortage, passengers faint while waiting

Union Minister Jitendra Singh says Atomic Energy Bill 2025 in final stages
Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the draft of the Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is in an advanced stage. It is undergoing legal scrutiny, incorporating suggestions from various ministries. He said that the final status of the bill will only be clear after it has gone through all the necessary procedures.