New Delhi: A special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the 150 years of Vande Mataram saw Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan deliver a strong critique of the government’s approach to the national song. She urged members to focus on its meaning instead of using it as a political test for Indian Muslims.
She said Vande Mataram celebrates land, water, forests, air and the welfare of every citizen. She noted that these values face erosion today. She added that Indian Muslims face repeated questioning over the song. She said Indian Muslims are Indian by choice and not by chance. She reminded the House that the accepted verses were decided after advice from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore.
Hasan explained key lines of the hymn. She said Sujalam Suphalam imagines a country with clean rivers and prosperous farmers. Citing a Delhi Pollution Control Committee report, she said the Yamuna shows a BOD level of 127 mg per litre in many areas while healthy levels stand at 3 mg per litre. She said poisonous water harms land and destroys livelihoods.
She said the government invests crores in river projects, yet farmers use polluted water for agriculture. She described a wider ecological crisis and linked it to weak enforcement of environmental protections. She said Malayaja Sheetalam refers to life giving air, not the polluted air people breathe in the capital.
She added that the spirit of Vande Mataram demands safety for women. She said rising crimes against women and displacement of tribals for commercial projects undermine the values expressed in the song. She urged the House to protect nature, uphold rights and avoid using Vande Mataram for political gain.
