Kolkata, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that for a long period after India’s Independence and Partition, the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ was not accepted wholeheartedly by some sections.
Addressing officers and personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Siliguri in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, Shah said the complete song had not been sung on certain occasions despite being performed in Parliament, where members would stand when it was played.
“It was sung in the Parliament. Everyone used to stand up. But many people like me were saddened that even after Independence and the partition, the entire Vande Mataram was not sung,” he said.
Shah said the 80th Independence Day celebrations this year were different as the complete ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung for the first time at the ceremony at the Red Fort.
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He recalled attending the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort since 2015 whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag, and described this year’s event as distinctive.
Shah said the song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, played an important role in India’s freedom movement and articulated a vision of what an independent India should be.
During his visit to Siliguri, Shah interacted with SSB personnel and laid the foundation stones for various SSB projects.
He also praised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari over the progress made in allotting land required for border fencing. Shah said the state government had already allotted 1,129 acres for the purpose.
Shah said he had repeatedly sought land allotment from the previous Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, but his requests had not been accepted. He said the land was being sought for strengthening border security and not for the BJP.
The Home Minister also paid tribute to shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan on his death anniversary, recalling his response when asked where he derived the greatest joy from playing the shehnai.
Shah quoted Bismillah Khan as saying that he found no greater joy than playing the instrument on the banks of the Ganga in the morning in the presence of Kashi Vishwanath.
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