Priyanka Gandhi Questions PM Modi Over Omission of Nehru’s ‘Communalist’ Remark

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha on 8 December 2025, accusing the Prime Minister of quoting Jawaharlal Nehru selectively. The clash centred on Nehru's 1937 letter to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and its reference to Muslim concerns over the song Vande Mataram.

Priyanka Gandhi argued that PM Modi did not share the full context of the correspondence during the special discussion on Vande Mataram. She said the Prime Minister's remarks gave an incomplete picture of Nehru's stand, especially on the controversy around the remaining stanzas of the song.

Vande Mataram debate and historical context in Parliament

Speaker Om Birla opened the discussion by linking Vande Mataram to 150 years of its journey in public life. Om Birla said the song still connects strongly with people across India. "Its immortal sound, each line of which reflects the unique harmony of India's nature, motherhood, beauty and strength."

Om Birla added that the composition inspired resistance during the freedom struggle. "This song awakened the courage to dream of freedom in millions of Indians, and countless heroes, even while facing torture and the gallows, he said." "Today, we pay homage to all those heroes, known and unknown, whose faith and sacrifice made Vande Mataram not just a song, but a timeless symbol of national resolve," the Speaker underlined.

Vande Mataram letter dispute and Priyanka Gandhi’s charge

Earlier in the debate, PM Modi referred to Nehru's letter to Bose while addressing the House. Modi said Nehru had agreed with concerns raised by Muhammad Ali Jinnah about the song's background. PM Modi read out Nehru's words to argue that the first Prime Minister had acknowledged possible Muslim unease.

Quoting the letter, PM Modi told MPs, "On October 20, Nehru wrote to Netaji, informing him that he accepted Jinnah's sentiments regarding Vande Mataram. He noted that the song's Anandamath association could instigate Muslims. 'I have read the background of Vande Mataram, and I believe this context may indeed offend Muslims,' Nehru wrote to Bose," PM Modi had said in the Parliament.

Responding, Priyanka Gandhi cited another line from the same 1937 letter to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Priyanka Gandhi said, "The so-called objection against the remaining stanzas of Vandra Mataram was manufactured by the communalists." Priyanka Gandhi accused PM Modi of ignoring this part of the letter in the speech and argued that it changed the understanding of Nehru's position.

Priyanka Gandhi also recalled how the Constituent Assembly chose only two stanzas of Vande Mataram. She stressed that Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were both present when this decision was taken. Priyanka Gandhi asked, "Why didn't they object then?" she questioned, suggesting that the compromise enjoyed broad support at that time.

The Congress MP further criticised the current government for frequent attacks on Jawaharlal Nehru's record in office. Priyanka Gandhi told the treasury benches to compile a list of Nehru's "blunders" and fix a day for an extended debate in Parliament. The report, with inputs from PTI, was published under the byline of Prateek Chakraborty on 8 December 2025.