New Delhi: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of distorting history for political gain, particularly during a recent Rajya Sabha debate on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. Ramesh claimed the BJP's primary aim was to malign Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, but their efforts ultimately insulted other freedom fighters and national icons like Rabindranath Tagore.

During the debate, Ramesh asserted that the BJP was presenting a distorted version of historical events. He argued that the ruling party's leaders "set out to be historians but end up becoming 'distorians'". He said that there is "far too little history in our politics and far too much politics in our history".

Ramesh referenced the decision to adopt a shorter version of Vande Mataram, stating it was a collective decision made by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which included prominent leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Rabindranath Tagore, and Jawaharlal Nehru. He highlighted correspondence between Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Tagore, and Nehru, emphasizing that concerns surrounding Vande Mataram were part of legitimate political discussions.

He questioned whether the BJP was implying that leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose were also involved in appeasing Muslims by agreeing to limit Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas as the national song. Ramesh referenced a 1927 press statement by Tagore, who advised the CWC to adopt the initial stanzas as the national anthem.

Ramesh also pointed to a letter from Rajendra Prasad to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1937, where Prasad raised concerns about Vande Mataram and requested the Congress Working Committee to take a stand. "Was it appeasement? Are you accusing Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Patel of appeasement?" Ramesh questioned.

In addition to the Vande Mataram debate, Ramesh has previously accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of misusing the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, particularly on Patel's birth anniversary. He argued that these organizations, which he says had no role in the freedom movement, have been distorting historical facts and selectively invoking national icons for political purposes since 2014.

Ramesh's criticism follows accusations made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stated that the Congress party had compromised on the national song and "surrendered before the Muslim League". Ramesh responded by calling Modi the "master of distortion". He questioned Modi about historical actions of BJP leaders, such as Syama Prasad Mookerjee forming a coalition in Bengal with the person who moved the Pakistan resolution and L.K. Advani applauding Jinnah in Karachi.

The Congress party has demanded an apology from Modi for "insulting the founding fathers to score political points". Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused Modi of obsessively dragging Nehru into every political battle.