BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri
Bengaluru: A political row has broken out in Karnataka after BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri claimed that India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was written to welcome British officials, The Times of India reported. The remark drew sharp criticism from Congress leaders, who accused him of twisting historical facts.
Addressing an event in Honnavar marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, Kageri said there had once been a demand for Vande Mataram to be adopted as the national anthem. He added: “Our ancestors for whatever reasons said let Vande Mataram and that song that was written to welcome the British officials ‘Jana gana mana’ both be there.” He also argued that Vande Mataram, which inspired generations during the freedom struggle, should be promoted widely in its 150th year.
The comments prompted an immediate rebuttal from Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge, who dismissed the claim as “utter nonsense” and accused the BJP and RSS of circulating “WhatsApp history”, India Today reported. In a post on X, Kharge wrote that it was false to suggest the anthem was “British”.
Kharge pointed out that Rabindranath Tagore wrote Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata in 1911, with its first stanza later adopted as Jana Gana Mana. It was first sung on 27 December 1911 at an Indian National Congress session in Calcutta, and not as a tribute to the British monarchy. He added that Tagore had clarified in 1937 and 1939 that the hymn honoured the “Dispenser of India’s destiny”, not any king, including George V or George VI.
Kharge also criticised the RSS, saying: “I strongly urge every BJP, RSS leader, worker, and swayamsevak to revisit history by reading the editorials of RSS mouthpiece Organiser and know that RSS has a great tradition of disrespecting the Constitution, the Tricolour, and the national anthem. This viRSS needs to be cured.”