Union Home Minister Amit Shah Demands Apology from Sonia Gandhi...
Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly criticized the Congress party and senior leader Sonia Gandhi during a public rally in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan....
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
In a scathing political attack on the Congress leadership, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that senior leader Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party must tender an unconditional apology to the people of India and to the legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay for allegedly disrespecting the National Song, *Vande Mataram*. Speaking at a public meeting in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, on August 16, 2026—where he also unveiled a 21-foot statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary—Shah strongly condemned the actions of the opposition leadership during their Independence Day celebrations.
Addressing the gathering, the Home Minister referenced video footage from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi during their August 15 event. He alleged that while *Vande Mataram* was being sung, Sonia Gandhi instructed the party leadership to stop the rendition midway. Shah described the incident as an unpardonable sin against the nation's struggle for independence, noting that 140 crore citizens witnessed the moment on television and would never forgive such disrespect toward the sacred mantra of the freedom movement.
Allegations of Vote-Bank Politics and Historical Disrespect
Expanding on his critique, Amit Shah stated that the Congress party had neglected and sidelined *Vande Mataram* over the decades purely out of "vote-bank politics". He recalled that during the Indian independence movement, thousands of freedom fighters braved lathi charges, bullets, and imprisonment while chanting *Vande Mataram* as their rallying cry.
The Home Minister highlighted that when the nation is celebrating 150 years of *Vande Mataram* and restoring its full glory, the opposition leadership appears uncomfortable with its complete rendition. He urged Congress leaders to reflect on their conduct and fold their hands in apology before the immortal spirit of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and the citizens of India.
Congress Rebuttal and Administrative Context in Rajasthan
Following the Home Minister's remarks, the Congress party refuted the allegations, clarifying that there was no attempt to stop the National Song and that *Vande Mataram* was rendered in full compliance at their headquarters. Party spokespersons stated that senior leaders were merely coordinating logistics during the event.
During the event in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accompanied Amit Shah, highlighting the state government's achievements in infrastructure expansion, border security, and regional development under the central administration's guidance. The public gathering formed part of a broader series of inaugurations and developmental announcements worth over ₹6,000 crore across Rajasthan.