A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Telangana over the issue of patriotism and the National Song Vande Mataram.
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao has criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for describing AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother, MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, as patriots.
Rao questioned whether the Chief Minister had the authority to issue what he described as “patriotism certificates” to political leaders.
‘What Is Your Definition of Patriotism?’
Ramchander Rao argued that patriotism should be reflected through respect for national symbols, including the national flag, national anthem and National Song.
He also alleged that AIMIM legislators had not stood during the singing of Vande Mataram in the Telangana Assembly. Based on this, he challenged the Congress government to demonstrate its commitment to national sentiment by having the full National Song sung in the Assembly.
The BJP leader's comments come amid a broader political dispute between the Congress and BJP over the rendition and historical treatment of Vande Mataram. The issue has recently become a prominent point of political debate at the national and state levels.
Attack on Congress-AIMIM Understanding
Rao also accused the Congress leadership of adopting what he termed vote-bank and appeasement politics by praising the Owaisi brothers.
He questioned why Revanth Reddy and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were portraying the AIMIM leaders as patriots and demanded that the Congress explain its position to the people of Telangana.
Konda Surekha Issue Also Raised
The BJP state chief also commented on the political developments surrounding Telangana minister Konda Surekha.
According to India Today, Rao said that any decision on whether Surekha could join the BJP would rest entirely with the party’s national leadership. He clarified that, at present, there had been no contact with her regarding such a move.
Vande Mataram Debate Intensifies
The latest remarks add another chapter to the ongoing Congress-BJP disagreement over Vande Mataram.
The BJP has accused Congress leaders of disrespecting the National Song, while Congress leaders have defended the practice of singing the first two stanzas, citing historical precedent. The dispute has also triggered a wider debate over nationalism, religious imagery and the place of the song in India’s freedom struggle.
