West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her party had “no problem” with the decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a parliamentary discussion on Vande Mataram, signalling conditional support even as she criticised what she described as the neglect of Bengal’s cultural icons by the ruling party. “Let him do it. We have no problem,” she told reporters at Kolkata’s airport before leaving for an official trip to North Bengal.
She acknowledged the legitimacy of exploring the 150-year legacy of Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and musically arranged by Jadunath Bhattacharya, noting that her party did not oppose the discussion in principle. However, Banerjee pivoted quickly to accuse certain members of the Bharatiya Janata Party of harbouring disdain for revered figures such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and Raja Ram Mohan Roy. “They have objections to everything, at times they oppose Gurudev, and at times Netaji,” she said.
Her comments come against the backdrop of a prolonged 10-hour debate in the lower house, initiated by the Prime Minister, to commemorate the national song’s sesquicentennial milestone. During the event, Modi argued that the song remained a cornerstone of unity during British oppression and criticised Congress leaders for allegedly having “fractured” the song under political pressure prior to Independence. He also referred to Bankim Chattopadhyay in arguably informal terms as “Bankim da,” a move that triggered objections from opposition lawmakers representing Bengal’s sentiments.
The informal address was widely criticised by her party’s MPs. One senior legislator from Banerjee’s party described the reference as culturally insensitive and disrespectful to the legacy of the famed author. The backlash reflects broader concerns within Bengal over perceived appropriation of cultural heritage by parties unfamiliar with its nuances.
While extending her conditional support, Banerjee clarified why she abstained from attending a social event involving a mass recitation of religious texts — an event she said was organised by the BJP. She added that had the gathering been a neutral one, she would have participated. Her stance signals a balancing act: acceptance of the idea of honoring Vande Mataram on its anniversary, paired with firm resistance to what she frames as BJP’s pattern of undermining Bengal’s historical icons.
Family of Bankim Chandra lauds Vande Mataram debate 