Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said the Centre wanted a debate on Vande Mataram because of the upcoming West Bengal election.

"Why are we having a debate on Vande Mataram," questioned Gandhi in Lok Sabha, asserting what debate there can be on the national song. "We are having the Vande Mataram debate as West Bengal polls are coming."

She said that the Centre is committing a great sin by creating a controversy over the song which is the soul of the nation. "The Congress party will not contribute to this sin," she said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a debate in Parliament to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram. He had criticised the Congress, saying the party had previously split the national song under pressure from the Muslim League and had “kne

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