BJP trying to weaken legacy of independence movement, says Ashok Gehlot

Veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday (November 7, 2025) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre of attempting to weaken the legacy of the independence movement by using the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram. Mr. Gehlot said the events organised to mark the occasion had been “politicised”.

“There is an attempt to forget the glorious tradition of sacrifice, penance, and devotion associated with our freedom,” Mr. Gehlot said, while alleging that the BJP and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), wanted to end the legacy. The RSS had “no connection” with the freedom movement, he added.

Mr. Gehlot — the former Rajasthan Chief Minister — said at a press conference in Jaipur that though the BJP had got the opportunity to come to power “in the name of religion”, that did not mean they should try to erase the legacy of Congress.

“During British rule, they [the RSS] were in collaboration with them; they did not hoist the tricolour for decades, did not accept the Constitution, and even burnt effigies of Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. Sardar Patel himself had banned the RSS, and now they are trying to claim Sardar Patel as their own,” Mr. Gehlot said.

Mr. Gehlot affirmed that the Congress’s legacy was the same as that of India’s independence movement, something they were proud of, and said no one had the right to erase this legacy and make future generations remember only the RSS or BJP in history. “We will not accept this,” he said.

“The RSS and BJP are living in guilt… They have never believed in the Constitution. Vande Mataram became an inspirational song for freedom fighters in 1896, and it was first sung by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the Calcutta session. Since then, this song has been sung regularly at every Congress block committee, district committee, or session,” Mr. Gehlot said.

Referring to the RSS song, Namaste Sada Vatsale, the Congress leader said: “Your song is Namaste Sada Vatsale; tell me, have you ever sung Vande Mataram at any RSS shakha? Have you ever even discussed Vande Mataram?”

Mr. Gehlot appreciated the decision to celebrate the anniversary of Vande Matraram, but said it should have been organised in such a way that the entire nation could participate in it. “Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, and Jains, everyone should be included. The government programmes should not be turned into BJP’s events but should be inclusive of all,” he said.

The BJP reacted sharply to Mr. Gehlot’s remarks, saying he was “distorting history” and dragging the national song into the realm of politics. BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP and former Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari said the Muslim leaders had opposed Vande Mataram at the Congress session, after which it was sought to be linked with religion, which was “completely wrong and unfortunate”.

Mr. Tiwari said the BJP considered the national song a symbol of national unity and inspiration, rather than a political tool. “The BJP is a party with the nationalist ideology… If Mr. Gehlot and Congress truly felt patriotic, they should have participated in this event and stood with the country, rather than distancing themselves [from it],” Mr. Tiwari said.