Opposition parties accused the Centre of using the “Vande Mataram” debate to influence the upcoming 2026 West Bengal elections. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Gaurav Gogoi criticised the government, alleging that the BJP was reviving old disputes for political gain. They argued that the ruling party was attempting to distract from present challenges by repeatedly invoking historical figures and past controversies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the debate by blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for changes made to the song decades ago. Priyanka Gandhi countered, saying the government was deliberately revisiting the past because it had failed to address current issues. She also claimed the BJP was trying to project itself as the sole custodian of nationalism ahead of the Bengal polls.
Gaurav Gogoi accused the Prime Minister of frequently using Nehru’s name to score political points, insisting that attempts to undermine Nehru’s legacy would not succeed. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP was trying to “own” Vande Mataram while dividing society, calling the party “rashtra-vivadi”.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra argued that the debate was being used to overshadow urgent national concerns such as unemployment, pollution, and the financial strain on opposition-led states. She said the BJP’s stance on Vande Mataram would not resonate in Bengal and accused the party of targeting the song for electoral advantage.
The BJP, meanwhile, alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi skipped the Prime Minister’s speech due to “a sense of guilt,” further intensifying the political clash.