Sin won't be forgiven: Amit Shah slams Sonia Gandhi over Vande Mataram row

Sin won't be forgiven: Amit Shah on Sonia Gandhi 'stopping' Vande Mataram rendition at Congress I-Day eventUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused the Congress of “shamelessness” over an alleged attempt to stop the rendition of Vande Mataram midway during the party’s Independence Day programme, saying the “sin” would not be forgiven by the people.Addressing a public gathering in Chittorgarh, Shah alleged that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi asked the party president to stop the national song while it was being sung at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day.“Look at their (Congress's) shamelessness. The anthem Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress Party headquarters. During the anthem, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi told the Congress President to stop singing. We all just kept watching on TV,” Shah said.“Sonia ji, 140 crore people are watching you. This sin you have committed will never be forgiven by the people of this country. How can anyone even dream of leaving the anthem Vande Mataram incomplete? The people of Congress should feel ashamed,” he added. Shah also demanded that the Congress apologise to the people of the country and to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote Vande Mataram. “If there is any shame left, you should fold your hands and apologise to Bankim Babu's immortal spirit and the people,” Shah said.The controversy erupted after visuals from the Congress headquarters’ Independence Day programme showed senior party leaders speaking among themselves while Vande Mataram was being recited. BJP leaders subsequently claimed that the conduct amounted to disrespect towards the national song. BJP leader Amit Malviya hit out at Sonia Gandhi and said she had objected to the full rendition of Vande Mataram and claimed that she became “agitated” after the initial stanzas were sung and asked for the rendition to be stopped. He also claimed that Rahul Gandhi appeared to signal that it should end.The Congress, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that Sonia Gandhi’s actions had nothing to do with stopping the national song. The party said she was merely trying to ensure that the correct arrangements were made for the rendition of Vande Mataram at the event.Shah, meanwhile, linked the controversy to the Congress’ political approach, alleging that the party had “forgotten Vande Mataram due to vote-bank politics”. Referring to the freedom struggle, the home minister said thousands of people had faced bullets, lathis and imprisonment for singing Vande Mataram.“After 80 years of Independence, Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort and all other places where flag hoisting was held,” Shah said.- EndsPublished By: Devika BhattacharyaPublished On: Aug 16, 2026 14:12 IST