Congress on Tuesday, 18 August launched a sharp counter-offensive against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP and actor Kangana Ranaut after she compared senior Congress leaders to Pakistan in the context of the ongoing Vande Mataram controversy, with party leaders publicly questioning her mental health and political credibility.

What Kangana Ranaut Said

Speaking during a temple visit in Mumbai, Ranaut drew a pointed comparison between the Congress leadership's conduct and that of Pakistan. 'Vande Mataram represents the consciousness of India. As an artist, I understand the impact that art and poetry can have on people. The level of hatred shown towards it, and the efforts made to stop its rendition despite being on camera, are deeply concerning. I would say that even people in Pakistan may not show such a reaction,' she said.

Ranaut further claimed: 'I will say that Congress is not only becoming anti-BJP, but also against the country.'

Congress Leaders Hit Back

The remarks drew an immediate and pointed response from Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, who stopped short of engaging with the substance of Ranaut's comments. 'The BJP itself does not take her seriously... I repeatedly pray to God to keep her healthy. I want to say through this platform that she should consult a good doctor,' Shrinate said. She added: 'She is becoming increasingly unwell day by day. The BJP should take note of this first and have her consult a good doctor.'

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi went further, questioning Ranaut's credibility on patriotism. 'Now Kangana Ranaut will tell us about patriotism despite being the one who said that India got independence only in 2014,' he said. Pratapgarhi also invoked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging: 'Those who didn't wave the nation's Tricolour for 52 years at the headquarters of their parent organisation, those who had initially denied to accept the Constitution, today they will teach us about patriotism?'

The Vande Mataram Controversy

The political flashpoint stems from a controversy over the conduct of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Sonia Gandhi during the rendition of the national song Vande Mataram at the party's Independence Day celebrations at its headquarters. The BJP has used the episode to question the Congress's nationalist credentials, while the Congress has dismissed the charge as politically motivated.

Congress Invokes Freedom Struggle

Pratapgarhi mounted a broader historical defence, asserting that Congress leaders spent 'ten to twelve years in prison while fighting against the British' and that the party carries 'a golden history of the freedom struggle.' He urged Ranaut to 'read books about India's freedom struggle, even after that, at least till 1960.' The Congress framing attempts to turn the patriotism debate on its head, positioning the BJP — and by extension the RSS — as latecomers to the nationalist tradition.

The exchange reflects a pattern of escalating political rhetoric around national symbols, one that has intensified in the run-up to upcoming state elections. Whether the Vande Mataram row sustains as a political issue will depend on how both sides choose to press it in the days ahead.