VIDEO: "Kaun Baithanewala Hai?" Rajnath Singh's Fiery Exchange with Opposition in Lok Sabha

A charged discussion on Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha on Monday turned confrontational when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reacted sharply to interruptions from Opposition MPs, setting off a moment that quickly drew national attention.

Heated Exchange Unfolds in the House

During his speech, several Opposition lawmakers called on him to pause, which triggered an immediate rebuke. Singh shot back with, "Kaun baithanewala hai? Kaun baithayega?" and then added, "Kya baat kar rahe ho...baith! Yeh himmat hogayi?" His remarks came as BJP members also raised their voices, questioning the Opposition's demand that a Union minister take his seat in the middle of a speech.

He then turned to Speaker Om Birla for intervention, after which the Speaker instructed the protesting MPs to settle down so the session could move forward.

Minister Criticises Congress Over Treatment of Vande Mataram

Once order returned, Singh resumed his address and accused the Congress of weakening the prominence of Vande Mataram for political reasons rooted in earlier decades. He argued that the party's decisions had given the national song unequal treatment when compared to the national anthem.

"Restoring the glory of Vande Mataram is the need of the hour and also a demand of morality. Justice that should have been done to 'Vande Mataram' did not happen, and unequal treatment was given to the national anthem and the national song," he said.

He went on to describe this trend as the beginning of a broader pattern of appeasement. According to him, this was not only an injustice to a cultural symbol but also to citizens of the country. Singh further insisted that the song and the text of Anand Math had been misunderstood over time. "Now is the time for an unbiased evaluation of Vande Mataram and its history. Everyone has heard the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, but many are not familiar with the rest. Most parts of the original version have been forgotten, and those stanzas depict the essence of India," he said.

Prime Minister Highlights Song's Place in Freedom Struggle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the debate earlier with a reflection on the origins of Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and introduced in Bangadarshan in 1875. He spoke of its influence on movements against colonial power.

"Vande Mataram is not just a mantra for political freedom; it was a sacred war cry to rid Bharatmata of vestiges of colonialism. It is a matter of pride for us that we are witnessing the historic occasion of 'Vande Mataram' completing 150 years. The British divided Bengal in 1905, but 'Vande Mataram' stood like a rock and inspired unity," he said.

He also revisited the period when the song marked its centenary, saying, "When 'Vande Mataram' completed 100 years, the nation was chained by the Emergency. At that time, the Constitution was throttled, and those who lived and died for patriotism were pushed behind prison bars. The Emergency was a dark chapter in our history. Now we have the opportunity to restore the greatness of 'Vande Mataram'. And I believe this opportunity should not be allowed to pass."

The issue resurfaced recently when the Prime Minister alleged that important stanzas were omitted by the Congress during its 1937 Faizabad session, a move the party defended by citing guidance from Rabindranath Tagore and the need to consider sentiments of diverse communities.

Opposition Questions Motive Behind Renewed Focus

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra concluded the debate by accusing the government of reviving the subject ahead of the Bengal elections rather than prioritising public issues. She also criticised the Prime Minister for what she described as selective quoting of Jawaharlal Nehru.

She remarked that the BJP could compile all alleged grievances related to Nehru, debate them at one stretch, and bring the matter to a close. "Let us use the precious time of this Parliament for the job people have elected us for," she said.