The Indian National Congress launched a sharp criticism against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday following a controversial directive from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. The parliamentary authority instructed Members of Parliament to refrain from using patriotic slogans including 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' within Parliament premises to maintain decorum.
Congress Questions BJP's Patriotic Credentials
In a strongly worded response, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate expressed shock and disbelief at the development. The party made a veiled reference to the RSS, suggesting that those who had not actively participated in India's freedom movement and had historical alignment with British rulers were now objecting to slogans that were once anathema to colonial masters.
"I am shocked. What on earth is the objection to these slogans?" Shrinate questioned during her media briefing. "The British had a problem with them, and now the BJP folks have too? What kind of people are they who find it difficult to utter the two most famous slogans of the freedom struggle in the House?"
Historical Significance of Banned Slogans
The Congress spokesperson elaborated on the deep historical roots and contemporary importance of both slogans. She emphasized that 'Jai Hind' was officially adopted by the Indian armed forces as their formal greeting after India gained independence in 1947.
Regarding 'Vande Mataram', Shrinate highlighted its dual significance as both India's national song and a powerful expression that赋予 India the status of a mother figure. She reminded that the British administration repeatedly banned 'Vande Mataram' between 1906 and 1910 and frequently arrested Indian citizens who dared to sing the patriotic song during colonial rule.
Political Implications and National Discourse
The controversy has sparked a fresh political debate about freedom of expression in parliamentary proceedings and the interpretation of nationalistic symbols. The timing of the Rajya Sabha directive and the strong Congress reaction indicates this issue might dominate political discussions in the coming days.
This development raises important questions about how India's freedom struggle heritage is being treated in contemporary political spaces and whether restrictions on patriotic expressions align with the spirit of democratic discourse that Parliament is meant to embody.
