Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar has made a strong statement regarding Vande Mataram. He said that all the verses of Vande Mataram were sung until 1937, but two verses were removed following objections from Jinnah and the Muslim League. Shanta Kumar questioned whether, nearly 80 years after Independence, India would still function according to the thinking of Jinnah and the Muslim League.
In a statement issued here, the former Chief Minister said that objections were raised to two verses of Vande Mataram in 1937. According to him, these verses praised Hindu goddesses Maa Lakshmi and Maa Durga, which Jinnah and the Muslim League opposed. He said that following this, a Congress resolution was passed and two verses were removed.
Targeting the Congress, Shanta Kumar said that the party should clarify what objection it has to the worship of Maa Lakshmi and Maa Durga. He alleged that the present-day Congress is functioning like the Muslim League.
He further said that India today is aware and will not accept any injustice done to Vande Mataram. His statement could intensify the political debate surrounding Vande Mataram and its history.
There was no immediate response from the Congress regarding the former Chief Minister’s statement. Vande Mataram has long remained an important subject in India’s political and cultural discourse, and Shanta Kumar’s latest remarks have once again brought the issue into the centre of political discussion.
