‘This sin will never be forgiven’: Amit Shah tears into Sonia Gandhi over Vande Mataram row

Amit Shah has launched a sharp attack on Sonia Gandhi over the Vande Mataram row, accusing her of asking Kharge to stop the national song

PGurus Newsdesk

August 16, 2026

Vande Mataram row: BJP turns up heat on Sonia Gandhi as Congress denies allegation

Shah accused Sonia Gandhi of asking Mallikarjun Kharge to stop Vande Mataram during Congress’s Independence Day event

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over the controversy surrounding the rendition of Vande Mataram at the party’s Independence Day function, accusing her of insulting the national song and saying the alleged act would not be forgiven by the people.

Addressing a public gathering in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, Shah said the alleged incident at the Congress headquarters was deeply shameful, particularly because it occurred during an Independence Day programme. He claimed Sonia Gandhi asked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to stop the song midway.

“140 crore people are watching you. This sin you have committed will never be forgiven by the people of this country,” Shah said, demanding that Sonia Gandhi apologise to the nation and to the memory of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote Vande Mataram.

‘How can anyone leave Vande Mataram incomplete?’

Shah contrasted the controversy at the Congress headquarters with the nationwide celebrations of Independence Day, pointing out that Vande Mataram was sung at the Red Fort and at other venues across the country.

He said generations of freedom fighters had faced British bullets, lathis and imprisonment while raising the slogan and singing the song during India’s freedom struggle.

Against that backdrop, Shah questioned how anyone could object to the complete rendition of the national song at an Independence Day function.

The BJP has seized on visuals from the Congress event, with party IT cell chief Amit Malviya alleging that Sonia Gandhi appeared agitated when the rendition continued beyond the initial stanzas. Malviya also claimed Rahul Gandhi appeared to signal that the song should end.

Congress rejects BJP’s charge

Congress has strongly denied that Sonia Gandhi attempted to stop Vande Mataram.

The party’s explanation is that Gandhi was asking for a chair for Kharge, who had reportedly been standing for some time, and that her gestures had nothing to do with opposing the national song.

The BJP, however, has continued to press the issue, arguing that the visuals speak for themselves and accusing Congress of showing disrespect towards a symbol deeply associated with India’s freedom struggle.

BJP complaint adds fuel to row

The controversy escalated further on Sunday when BJP leaders filed a police complaint against Sonia Gandhi in Karnataka over the alleged incident. The complaint has added a legal dimension to what began as a political confrontation over the Independence Day event.

The row has also drawn criticism from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay‘s descendants. BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of the legendary writer, demanded an unconditional apology from Sonia Gandhi over the controversy.

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