PM Modi’s decision to open the Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram on its 150-year anniversary is significant. However, the political context in which the government has chosen to spotlight it cannot be ignored, particularly with West Bengal due for Assembly election early next year. Unfortunately, the parliamentary exchange on the national song spiralled into disputes about Jawaharlal Nehru and MA Jinnah. One fails to understand why the PM carries Nehru and the Congress party as an albatross around his neck in every parliamentary speech. The burning issues related to the IndiGo fiasco, SIR and the free fall of our rupee against the dollar did not find mention. One concurs with the Opposition that the NDA/BJP is indulging in diversionary politics. Religion alone cannot resolve problems faced by the common man whose thoughts linger around how to manage his next day meal. At 150, Vande Mataram should have been an opportunity to reinforce unity and acknowledge the plurality in nationalism. Instead, the debate risks becoming another flashpoint in a polarised climate. The country deserves honours that rise above electoral compulsions. The leadership must use history to unite, not divide.
