Bengaluru: Uttara Kannada BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has claimed that Jana Gana Mana, the country’s national anthem, was written “to welcome the British”.

Kageri said this at an event in Honnavar to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram, India’s national song.

The Congress slammed Kageri, describing his claim as “utter nonsense”.

Speaking at the event, Kageri said both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana were equal in stature.

“I don’t want to revisit history. Calls to make Vande Mataram the national anthem were strong. But our ancestors decided to keep Vande Mataram as well as Jana Gana Mana, which was composed to welcome the British. We’ve accepted this,” Kageri, a former Karnataka Assembly Speaker, said.

Kageri said Vande Mataram should get more prominence it deserves.

“Vande Mataram’

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