BJP MP Nitin Nabin called the Indian National Congress the “New Muslim League” following the party's decision regarding the national song Vande Mataram.

The dispute highlights deep ideological divisions in India over the interpretation of national symbols and the historical resolutions of political parties.

The controversy began when the Congress party announced it would sing only the first two [1] stanzas of Vande Mataram at its events. Nabin said the party has now formalised its insult to the song into a resolution [4].

In response, a Congress Working Committee spokesperson said the party will stick to singing only the first two [1] stanzas of Vande Mataram, citing a resolution from 1937 [3]. The party maintains that this stance is a continuation of long-standing internal policy rather than a recent political pivot.

Nabin viewed the decision to limit the song as an insult to the national anthem's legacy. He said the label “New Muslim League” suggests that the Congress is aligning itself with communal interests, a move that has prompted opposition leaders to hit back against the BJP's rhetoric [2].

The clash over the song's length has escalated into a broader national debate in New Delhi. While the BJP frames the issue as a matter of national respect, the Congress frames it as adherence to historical party protocol [3].

This exchange reflects a recurring pattern in Indian politics where historical resolutions are used to justify current policy, while opponents frame such decisions as betrayals of national identity [4].

“The Congress has now formalised its insult (to Vande Mataram) into a resolution.”

This dispute underscores the ongoing tension between the BJP's emphasis on cultural nationalism and the Congress party's reliance on its historical institutional framework. By invoking the 'Muslim League,' the BJP is attempting to link the Congress to a separatist historical entity to question its nationalist credentials, while the Congress is attempting to maintain a specific historical interpretation of its relationship with national symbols.