Nehru dropped Maa Durga stanzas from Vande Mataram in 1937: BJP attacks Congress

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan took to X and alleged that the Congress, under Nehru's presidency, had in 1937 adopted only a truncated version of Vande Mataram, deliberately removing stanzas that praised Goddess Durga.

"It is imperative for the younger generation to know how the Congress, pandering to its communal agenda, adopted a shortened Vande Mataram at its Faizpur session. The glorious Vande Mataram became the voice of our nation’s unity and solidarity,celebrating our motherland,instilling nationalistic spirit and fostering patriotism. But the Congress committed the historic sin and blunder of linking the song with religion. Congress under Nehru citing religious grounds deliberately removed stanzas of Vande Mataram which hailed Goddess Ma Durga," Kesavan said.

The BJP leader also cited a 1937 letter by Nehru to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in which Nehru reportedly said the background of Vande Mataram was "likely to irritate Muslims". Kesavan said Nehru's view amounted to "a historic blunder" that weakened the song's national symbolism.