Amit Shah slams Congress over CWC's 2-stanza Vande Mataram decision
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah has drawn a direct line between the Congress Working Committee's decision to sing only two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' and the 1937 move he says laid the groundwork for Partition — a politically charged accusation that puts the Congress on the defensive over nationalism just as election season heats up.
Key Takeaways
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 20 August condemned the CWC's decision to sing only two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' , calling it 'anti-national.' Shah alleged that a similar Congress decision in 1937 strengthened the two-nation theory and contributed to the Partition of India .
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with correcting the 1937 decision 80 years after independence.
The CWC passed its resolution on Wednesday, 19 August , opting for a two-stanza rendition over the full song.
Shah said the BJP will oppose the Congress decision both before the public and in Legislative Houses .
He accused Rahul Gandhi 's Congress of 'vigorously pursuing the politics of appeasement.'
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 20 August launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress, accusing it of pursuing 'extreme appeasement' politics after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolved to sing only two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' instead of the full national song. Shah called the decision 'anti-national and an open violation of the law made by Parliament.'
The Historical Parallel Shah Drew
Shah argued that the CWC's resolution echoed a decision taken by the Congress party in 1937, when, he alleged, the party divided 'Vande Mataram' into two parts to appease Muslim voters. 'It was from there that the two-nation theory gained strength, ultimately leading to the partition of the country and the birth of Pakistan,' Shah said in a statement issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He contended that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had corrected that 1937 decision 80 years after independence, and warned that 'the people of the country will no longer tolerate opposition to this correction.'
What the BJP Said
Shah stated that the BJP condemns the Congress party's decision and is 'determined to oppose it before the people as well as in Legislative Houses.' He questioned the Congress's patriotism, saying the CWC resolution only confirms what he described as the party's 'blatant policy of appeasement.'
'It is deeply surprising that, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party is once again vigorously pursuing the politics of appeasement in the country,' Shah said.
The CWC Resolution That Triggered the Row
The controversy follows a resolution passed by the CWC on Wednesday, 19 August, in which the party decided to sing only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' rather than the complete song. The CWC's rationale for the decision was not detailed in available reports.
This comes amid a broader political climate in which the ruling BJP has repeatedly accused the Congress of prioritising minority appeasement over national unity — a charge the Congress has consistently denied.
Shah's Appeal to the Public
The Home Minister appealed to citizens to remember the consequences of what he termed the original division of 'Vande Mataram', and called on them to 'unite and raise their voices' against the CWC's decision. He argued that allowing the song to be sung partially once before had led to 'serious consequences' for the nation.
The political battle over 'Vande Mataram' is likely to intensify as both parties head into an election season where nationalism and identity are expected to remain central themes.
Point of View
But its timing — tied to a fresh CWC resolution — gives it renewed political bite. The Congress has not publicly explained its rationale for the two-stanza decision, which hands the BJP an open goal on a symbolically charged issue. What mainstream coverage often misses is that the legal claim — that a partial rendition violates an Act of Parliament — deserves independent scrutiny rather than mere assertion. The deeper story is how a procedural CWC resolution has been rapidly escalated into a Partition-era allegory, reflecting how quickly cultural nationalism can dominate the political agenda and crowd out policy debate.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Amit Shah criticise the Congress over Vande Mataram?
Amit Shah criticised the Congress after the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution on 19 August deciding to sing only two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' instead of the full song. He called the decision 'anti-national' and alleged it violated a law passed by Parliament.
What did the CWC decide about Vande Mataram?
The Congress Working Committee, at its meeting on Wednesday 19 August, resolved to sing only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' rather than the complete song. The CWC's stated reasons for this decision were not made publicly available in available reports.
How does Amit Shah connect the CWC decision to the Partition of India?
Shah argued that in 1937, the Congress party divided 'Vande Mataram' into two parts for what he described as Muslim appeasement, and that this move strengthened the two-nation theory and ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan. He said the CWC's new resolution repeats that historical blunder.
What action has the BJP said it will take?
The BJP, through Amit Shah's statement, said it condemns the CWC's decision and is determined to oppose it both before the public and inside Legislative Houses. Shah also appealed to citizens to unite and raise their voices against the decision.
Who is being held responsible for the Congress's position on Vande Mataram?
Shah specifically named Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying it was 'deeply surprising' that under Gandhi's leadership, the Congress was 'once again vigorously pursuing the politics of appeasement in the country.'
