New Delhi [India], January 28: Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday slammed on Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over the scrapping of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during the Winter Session. Manickam Tagore accused the opposition of using "Vande Mataram" to cover up their failures.
Manickam Tagore said, "Dear Kirenji, Stop hiding behind Vande Mataram to cover up your failures. The truth is simple: during the Winter Session, the BJP bulldozed MGNREGA, removed Mahatma Gandhi's name, and snatched away the guaranteed rights of 13 crore people. When we raised this issue, with Gandhi pictures, Instead of answering, you chose to manufacture fake outrage. The Opposition protested for one minute at the beginningonly to demand that MGNREGA be restored and Gandhi ji's name be reinstated. That was our message. Nothing more, nothing less. Do not insult our freedom fighters by spreading lies. Do not insult Parliament by suppressing debate. And do not insult the people of India by hiding the truth behind slogans. The nation knows who stands for Gandhi, and who fears his legacy."
Earlier, Kiren Rijiju posted on X, " At least Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji and Shri Rahul Gandhi ji should have told opposition MPs not to insult Vande Mataram undermining the honour of our great freedom fighters. Instead they both were also standing and disturbing the Honb'le President's speech."
Last year, in December, the Lok Sabha's special discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram on Monday saw sharp political sparring, with Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav urging the government to focus on pressing national concerns instead of creating political divides over the iconic national song.
Inside the House, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also launched a pointed attack on the ruling BJP, accusing it of attempting to "claim everything as their own" for political mileage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Vande Mataram as a "powerful mantra" that guided India's fight for independence. Addressing the Lok Sabha, he described it as a source of "energy, inspiration, sacrifice and penance," adding that the government aims to "restore its glory for future generations."
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