BJP Ministers Abhijit Ganguly, Indranil Khan condemn Sharmila Tagore’s remarks on ‘Vande Mataram

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 22 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including MP Abhijit Ganguly and West Bengal Sports Minister Indranil Khan, have reacted to veteran actor Sharmila Tagore's recent comments on 'Vande Mataram', saying that the national song should not be viewed only through a religious lens.
While talking to the media, BJP MP Abhijit Ganguly described Sharmila Tagore's remarks as "anti-national" and called for a discussion on the issue.
"Sharmila Tagore can suggest; anybody can suggest. But if somebody takes a decision that they will not sing beyond the second paragraph, then that's anti-national. Let's come to discussion. I was in the Lok Sabha for days together in the last session. Congress never wanted to participate in any discussion, be it CJP, be it Vande Mataram, be it any other thing. So why are they saying all this? Let them come to the discussion. They will know," said BJP MP Abhijit Ganguly.

Bengal Minister Indranil Khan also condemned the remarks of Sharmila Tagore, questioning whether patriotism should be learnt from the veteran actor or the Congress.
"Is it from Sharmila Tagore or the Congress that we have to learn patriotism? The true warriors of the country, who liberated the country, who took the inspiration from Anandamath, with Vande Mataram in their hearts, gave freedom to the country. They gave freedom to all of us from the British. We have to learn from those, not from the ones who don't know what freedom is. We don't have to learn the lessons of freedom, independence, or patriotism from those who insult the national song."

Earlier, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut had reacted to veteran actor Sharmila Tagore's recent comments on 'Vande Mataram', saying that the poem should not be viewed only through a religious lens.
The 'Queen' actress, on Thursday, shared a video of Tagore's recent interview on her Instagram Stories and said she respected the veteran actor's right to have reservations about the national song. However, she disagreed with the way Sharmila had interpreted the poem.
Speaking about the poem as an artist, Kangana said poetry often uses metaphors and imagination to convey a larger message.
She wrote, "I appreciate that Sharmila ji has spoken about her reservation on Vande Mataram, but I am shocked as an artist how can her views on art/poetry can be so limiting and contrived, in any poetry or song words are metaphors, a poet or artist uses all kinds of imaginations draws unbelievable parallels to bring about the desirable effect, Vande Matram is the spirit of freedom struggle Bankim Chandra ji is compelling the nation to awaken the Shakti within, how can you reduce such a great piece of art to mere religious practice."
Kangana further said that references to 'Shakti' in poetry can be seen as symbols of strength and power. She also asked people to move beyond a "Hindu-Muslim mindset" while discussing the song.
She wrote, "Vivekananda famously said I need youth who are made of iron, bones of steel and veins in which runs thunderbolt, he was not giving weather forecast, he was simply demanding Shakti to rise, please come out of Hindu Muslim mindset even if we believe in one God doctors also call power Shakti, let's embrace each other like our own, I absolutely love you and don't mind a crushing hug like you always give me."
According to media reports, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore recently shared her perspective on the matter, saying that people who believe in a single God may find some portions of the song difficult to accept. She explained that her concern was about bringing people of different faiths together.
The 'Vande Mataram' row stems from video footage from the Congress headquarters showing Kharge and Sonia Gandhi conversing while the national song was being rendered during Independence Day celebrations on August 15, prompting the BJP to accuse the party's top leadership of disrespecting "Vande Mataram" and demand a public apology. (ANI)