Complaint over disruption of Vande Mataram recital: Police seek legal advice on case against Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Several complaints have been filed against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in different parts of the country, alleging that she attempted to disrupt the recital of Vande Mataram during the Independence Day celebrations at the AICC headquarters in the national capital.

Complaints have been lodged in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mangaluru. In Bengaluru, the BJP Yuva Morcha filed a complaint against Sonia Gandhi at the Malleswaram police station, alleging that she attempted to disrupt the recital of Vande Mataram. In Mangaluru, BJP leaders Vikas K and Rajagopal filed a similar complaint at the Urwa police station.

A complaint was also submitted to the police in Delhi. However, no case has been registered so far over the BJP's allegation that Sonia Gandhi insulted Vande Mataram. According to Delhi Police, a decision on registering a case will be taken after obtaining legal advice.

Meanwhile, Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of Vande Mataram author Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and a BJP MLA in West Bengal, has demanded that Sonia Gandhi issue an unconditional apology for allegedly insulting the national song. In a letter to Sonia Gandhi, he said that what happened at the AICC headquarters was a shameful repetition of a historical mistake. He alleged that the Congress was repeating its mistake of 1937, when it shortened Vande Mataram following objections from Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Respecting the song is equal to respecting the history of India’s freedom struggle, Sumitro Chatterjee said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also strongly criticised Sonia Gandhi. He alleged that the Congress had taken a shameful step for vote-bank politics. Shah said the country's 140 crore people would not forgive this “sin” and demanded that Sonia Gandhi apologise to the nation.