Modi said Vande Mataram was revered during the freedom struggle and recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s praise for the song. He asked why, despite Gandhi’s endorsement, political hesitation prevented its rightful place. Citing a 1936 speech by Muslim League leader Mohammed Ali Jinnah opposing the song, Modi alleged that then Congress president Jawaharlal Nehru chose to “examine the song” instead of defending it, resulting in what he termed its fragmentation.

Throughout his speech, the Prime Minister repeatedly referenced the historical and cultural weight of the song. He invoked Bankim Chandra Chatterjee 10 times and Mahatma Gandhi six times, while mentioning “Vande Mataram” itself 121 times. He also repeatedly highlighted Bengal’s role in the freedom struggle, calling the slogan the region’s “war cry.”

Modi framed the 150-year journey of the song across key national milestones: its 50th year under British rule, its centenary during the Emergency, and its present-day anniversary as India positions itself as the world’s fifth-largest economy. He also recounted the 1906 Barisal procession in present-day Bangladesh, where more than 10,000 people of all communities marched chanting Vande Mataram.

The Prime Minister’s remarks also included a direct political attack, accusing Congress of “outsourcing its policies” and claiming that over time the Indian National Congress had “become an MNC.”

The Lok Sabha began a scheduled 10-hour debate on the legacy of Vande Mataram, part of a year-long national commemoration. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi spoke after the Prime Minister. The Rajya Sabha will continue the discussion on December 9, following a consensus reached at an all-party meeting chaired by Speaker Om Birla earlier this month.