Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Congress Accuses BJP of Vande Mataram Division
Maharashtra Congress leaders held a meeting in Mumbai for the party’s minority department.
Harshwardhan Sapkal said the BJP was using a disagreement about Vande Mataram to divide Hindus and Muslims.
He said Congress helped give the song national-song status during the freedom movement.
Sapkal also said Congress preferred a message of love instead of revenge.
Imran Pratapgarhi said authorities were creating difficulties for Rahul Gandhi’s student programme in Pune.
He said the programme was planned for August 22.
Vijay Wadettiwar said the government was weakening democracy and changing the Constitution.
These were Congress leaders’ allegations, and the reports did not include a BJP response.
Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the BJP of reviving Hindu-Muslim divisions through the Vande Mataram controversy.
Sapkal said Congress regarded Vande Mataram as a national song and rejected BJP-linked questions about its patriotism.
Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that prohibitory orders in Pune were intended to obstruct Rahul Gandhi’s August 22 student programme.
Vijay Wadettiwar accused the BJP government of weakening democracy and changing the Constitution, while backing Rahul Gandhi for 2029.
The event marked Sajjid Khan Pathan’s formal assumption of office as president of Maharashtra Congress’s minority department.
- Who
- Maharashtra Congress leaders Harshwardhan Sapkal, Imran Pratapgarhi and Vijay Wadettiwar made the allegations; Sajjid Khan Pathan assumed leadership of the party’s minority department.
- What
- Congress leaders accused the BJP of reviving Hindu-Muslim divisions through the Vande Mataram issue and obstructing a Rahul Gandhi student programme.
- When
- The remarks were reported on Wednesday, August 19; the Chhatron Ki Goonj programme was scheduled for August 22.
- Where
- The Congress function took place at Tilak Bhavan in Mumbai; the disputed student programme was planned for Pune.
- Why
- Congress leaders alleged that the BJP lacked substantive issues and was using social divisions and administrative restrictions for political purposes.
Congress allegations
BJP position not provided
Vande Mataram controversy
Congress allegations
Congress leaders said the BJP was using the issue to create Hindu-Muslim divisions because it lacked substantive issues to present.
BJP position not provided
The reports do not include a BJP response or explain the party’s position on the Vande Mataram controversy.
Pune student programme
Congress allegations
Pratapgarhi alleged that prohibitory orders were imposed to obstruct Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj programme.
BJP position not provided
The reports do not provide the government’s explanation for the prohibitory orders or a response to the allegation.
Democracy and governance
Congress allegations
Wadettiwar accused the BJP government of weakening democracy, changing the Constitution and looting the country; he said Rahul Gandhi should lead the government in 2029.
BJP position not provided
No BJP response or counterargument appears in the reports.
- Main allegation
- Sapkal alleged that the BJP was trying to revive a Hindu-Muslim divide through the Vande Mataram controversy.
- Congress position
- Sapkal said Congress followed “mohabbat ki dukaan,” or a politics of love, rather than revenge.
- Vande Mataram claim
- Sapkal said Vande Mataram received national-song status during the Congress-led freedom movement and that decisions about its stanzas involved Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose.
- Pune programme
- Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address the Chhatron Ki Goonj programme in Pune on August 22.
- Alleged restrictions
- Imran Pratapgarhi claimed that prohibitory orders had been imposed in Pune to create hurdles for the programme.
- Leadership appointment
- Sajjid Khan Pathan formally assumed office as president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s minority department.
- 2029 proposal
- Vijay Wadettiwar said Rahul Gandhi should become prime minister in 2029.
