BJP MP Kageri Sparks Row, Claims National Anthem Written to Welcome British Officials
Congress leader Priyank Kharge dismisses statement as "RSS WhatsApp history," defends Tagore's composition
A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri made controversial remarks about India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Speaking at an event in Honnavar marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, Kageri claimed the anthem was composed to welcome a British official.
The statement has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, who called it “utter nonsense” and dismissed it as another example of distorted history spread through social media.
What Did Kageri Say?
While addressing the gathering to celebrate the national song Vande Mataram’s 150th anniversary, the BJP MP from Uttara Kannada argued that Vande Mataram deserves greater recognition. He suggested both songs should be treated equally.
“I don’t want to dig into history. There were strong calls to make Vande Mataram the national anthem, but our ancestors decided to keep both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, which was composed to welcome a British officer. We have accepted and are following it,” Kageri said.
He emphasized that Vande Mataram played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle and called for its wider reach among students and the general public during this milestone year.
Kharge’s Strong Response
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge quickly responded to the remarks on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He rejected Kageri’s claim and accused the BJP and its ideological parent organization RSS of spreading false historical narratives.
“BJP MP Kageri now claims that the National Anthem is British. Utter Nonsense. Another day, another RSS WhatsApp history lesson,” Kharge wrote.
He clarified the actual history behind Jana Gana Mana, explaining that Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore wrote the hymn “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata” in 1911. The first stanza of this composition later became India’s national anthem.
“The anthem was first sung on December 27, 1911, at the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta—not as a royal tribute,” Kharge stated.
He added that Tagore himself clarified in 1937 and 1939 that the song honors the “Dispenser of India’s destiny” and was never meant to praise any British monarch, including King George V or George VI.
A Pointed Critique of RSS
Taking a dig at Kageri’s remark that he doesn’t want to revisit history, Kharge urged BJP and RSS members to read their own publications.
“I strongly urge every BJP, RSS leader, worker and swayamsevak to revisit history by reading the editorials of RSS mouthpiece Organizer. They should know that RSS has a great tradition of disrespecting the Constitution, the Tricolour and the National Anthem. This viRSS needs to be cured,” he said.
About Vande Mataram’s 150th Anniversary
The year 2025 marks 150 years since Vande Mataram was written by Bankimchandra Chatterji. According to the Press Information Bureau, the song was composed on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Navami, which fell on November 7, 1875.
Vande Mataram became a rallying cry during India’s freedom movement and holds a special place in the nation’s history as the national song.
