For the first time in India's post-independence history, the national song Vande Mataram will be sung at the Red Fort during the 80th Independence Day celebrations on 15 August, sparking a sharp political exchange between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress. While BJP leaders and Shiv Sena welcomed the decision as a long-overdue tribute to the freedom struggle, Congress questioned the ruling party's credibility on nationalism.

BJP and Shiv Sena Hail the Decision

Bihar Minister Lakhendra Paswan said the song carries deep patriotic resonance. "When we hear Vande Mataram or Jana Gana Mana being sung, we feel the spirit of revolutionaries. We experience the essence of the country's freedom. Those who used to insult Vande Mataram and the national song will now face the strictest punishment," he said, adding that the Lok Sabha has already passed a bill making such insult punishable.

BJP Spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi underscored the song's historical weight. "Many freedom fighters embraced the gallows while chanting Vande Mataram. The song is among the most popular patriotic songs in the world and has been accorded the status of India's national song. Therefore, everyone should respect it," he said.

Bihar Minister Kedar Prasad Gupta described singing Vande Mataram as a fundamental right of every citizen in independent India and called for wider participation across the country.

Shiv Sena-UBT spokesperson Anand Dubey also expressed support. "The Vande Mataram Bill has been passed in both Houses and will now become law. We have always sung Vande Mataram. If it is sung during the Independence Day celebrations, it is a matter of great happiness," he said.

Congress Challenges BJP's Nationalist Credentials

Congress leader Nana Patole did not hold back. "The national anthem, Vande Mataram, and Jana Gana Mana are symbols of our country's identity and represent our respect and honour for the nation. At a time like this, the BJP, which wears the cloak of nationalism, has no real respect for the values of nationalism. For 52 years, these people did not even hoist the National Tricolour in this country. Yet they portray themselves as people who have immense respect and devotion for the nation," Patole said.

This is not the first time the BJP's record on national symbols has been contested by opposition parties. Critics have long argued that the party's invocation of patriotic imagery is selective, a charge the BJP consistently rejects.

This Year's Celebrations: Youth and Viksit Bharat

The Union government has announced that the 80th Independence Day celebrations will centre on the contribution of India's youth toward the goal of a developed nation — Viksit Bharat by 2047. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the ceremonies from the Red Fort in New Delhi.

Addressing a press conference, Union Defence Secretary R.K. Singh clarified that the decision to spotlight youth achievements was made well before recent student protests at Jantar Mantar. "Youths are a critical part of our journey towards Viksit Bharat because they will both contribute to it and benefit from it. That is the only reason," Singh said, adding that "the plan to celebrate the success and contribution of youth during the Independence Day celebrations predates any other event."

What Happens Next

With the Vande Mataram bill having cleared both Houses of Parliament, it is now set to become law. The inclusion of the national song in the Red Fort ceremony on 15 August marks a symbolic shift in how the government frames Independence Day — one that is certain to remain politically contested in the weeks ahead.