The Winter Session of Parliament is starting from Monday, where clashes between the government and the opposition on several issues are already evident. Additionally, there is a possibility of uproar in Parliament over 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind'.
Bengal Politics: Preparations for next year's assembly elections in West Bengal have already begun to gain momentum. Both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are striving to strengthen their political standing in the state over Vande Mataram. Meanwhile, both parties might confront each other in the Winter Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat, in a bulletin issued on November 24, has instructed MPs not to raise slogans like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’ in Parliament. Following this order, political controversy has intensified. The opposition has accused the BJP-backed central government of being uncomfortable with symbols of freedom. The bulletin reminded MPs that during House proceedings, ‘Thank you, Jai Hind, Vande Mataram,’ or any other type of slogan should not be raised. The stated objective is to maintain the seriousness and decorum of the House. However, this directive has sparked a political debate.
Mamata Banerjee Targets the Centre
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly targeted the central government over this order. She said,
'We say Jai Bangla in Bengali, and we say Vande Mataram. This is our national song and the slogan of freedom. If anyone clashes with the slogan that our freedom fighters fought with, they will be shattered.'
In response, TMC has made the singing of ‘Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol’ mandatory in all government and government-aided schools in the state. It has now been accorded the status of a state song.
BJP Celebrates 150 Years
On November 7, the BJP organized mass singing events in several parts of the state to mark 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. The party presented it as being linked to Bengali culture and identity. Historically, this song was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and sung by Rabindranath Tagore. It not only became a symbol of the 1905 partition of Bengal but also the voice of Indian freedom fighters during the freedom struggle.
Meanwhile, Ali Madani stated that imposing any slogan or song on a particular community is wrong. Questioning Prime Minister Modi's statement, he said that linking the removal of certain parts of Vande Mataram to partition is misleading. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said after an all-party meeting on Sunday, "Vande Mataram is an important part of our freedom struggle. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote it 150 years ago. This is not a political agenda. If a discussion is needed, it will be raised before all parties."
Political Confrontation
A day earlier, BJP leader Amit Malviya attacked Congress and TMC. He stated that the way both parties are protesting the directive issued in Parliament is a complete ‘political gimmick.’ Malviya clarified that this rule has been in effect for decades and was made by the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, not by any government.
The BJP is using this as an electoral strategy to garner support for national symbols and cultural identity in the state. Meanwhile, the TMC is presenting it as a defense of its identity and Bengali heritage.
