Cong accuses Modi of ‘insulting’ Tagore, 1937 CWC members

The Congress on Sunday intensified its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “insulting” the Congress Working Committee (CWC) of 1937 and poet Rabindranath Tagore through his remarks on the national song, “Vande Mataram”.

The grand old party said the PM should focus on the current issues that affect citizens rather than distorting historical facts for political gain.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister’s comments on the CWC and Tagore were “shocking but not surprising” since the RSS had “played no role in the Freedom Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi”.

The attack followed Modi’s statement on Friday that key stanzas of “Vande Mataram” were dropped in 1937, which he claimed “sowed the seeds of partition” and reflected a “divisive mindset” that still challenges the country. Modi made the remarks while launching a year-long commemoration marking 150 years of the national song, during which he also released a commemorative stamp and coin.

In a post on X, Ramesh referred to the CWC meeting held in Kolkata from October 26 to November 1, 1937, which was attended by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu, JB Kripalani, Bhulabhai Desai, Jamnalal Bajaj, and Narendra Deva, among others.

Citing The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume 66, page 46, Ramesh noted that on October 28, 1937, the CWC issued a statement on ‘Vande Mataram’ that had been “profoundly influenced” by Tagore’s advice.

“PM Modi has insulted this CWC as also Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. That he should have done so is shocking but not surprising since the RSS had played no role in our Freedom Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi,” Ramesh wrote on X.

He urged Modi to address issues that affect ordinary Indians instead of raking up historical controversies. “The PM should fight his political battles on current issues that are of daily concern to crores of Indians who worry about their present and future,” he said.

“His economic policies have sharpened inequalities. Unemployment has scaled new highs. Investment momentum has been lost. His foreign policy has collapsed. He stands thoroughly exposed. And all he does is abuse and defame India’s first Prime Minister,” Ramesh added.

He also shared screenshots of the 1937 CWC statement, which said the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” had gained national significance, describing the beauty and abundance of the motherland, and contained “nothing objectionable from the religious or any other point of view”.