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JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today organized a grand programme at Maharaja Hari Singh Ji Park, Jammu, to commemorate 150 years of India’s National Song, Vande Mataram. The event drew an overwhelming gathering of citizens, party workers, and dignitaries, celebrating the undying spirit of nationalism and unity.
The programme was graced by BJP National General Secretary & Prabhari Jammu and Kashmir Tarun Chugh, newly elected Rajya Sabha MP and J&K BJP President Sat Sharma, Lok Sabha MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, Vice-President & Programme Incharge Priya Sethi, along with senior party leaders, MLAs, office bearers, and prominent citizens.
Addressing the gathering, Tarun Chugh said that Vande Mataram is not merely a song but the soul of India’s freedom movement, a chant that united millions of Indians against British rule and awakened the spirit of Bharatiyata. He said that Vande Mataram symbolizes the reverence of every Indian towards the motherland and continues to inspire unity and pride.
Chugh criticized the Congress for its long history of appeasement and for repeatedly undermining national symbols to please vote banks. “Since the 1923 Kakinada Congress session, when Maulana Mohammad Ali objected to the singing of Vande Mataram, the Congress has shown the same divisive mindset, from then till the 2019 decision of the Madhya Pradesh Congress government to ban its recitation in the Secretariat,” he said. “This consistent disrespect towards the National Song reflects a deep-rooted weakness in their idea of India.”
Referring to recent statements from the Kashmir Valley against Vande Mataram programmes, Chugh said such voices are driven by hatred and separatism. “Those who oppose Vande Mataram are not opposing a song; they are rejecting the idea of Bharat itself,” he said, adding that this mentality stems from a narrow and divisive view of the nation.
Chugh emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is reclaiming its civilizational confidence and national pride. “The Congress may have tried to bury Vande Mataram under the burden of appeasement, but the people of India have revived it with devotion, courage, and unity,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Sat Sharma said that Vande Mataram is not just an anthem of freedom but a perennial reminder of our cultural roots and collective strength. “It was the spirit of Vande Mataram that inspired the freedom fighters to sacrifice everything for Bharat Mata, and today, under PM Modi’s leadership, that same spirit is steering India toward Viksit Bharat,” he said. He added that celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram is an opportunity to rekindle patriotic fervor and remind the youth of their duty towards the nation.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, while addressing the gathering, said that every Indian must feel proud to sing Vande Mataram, which binds the people across regions, religions, and languages. “This chant is the heartbeat of the nation it symbolizes unity in diversity and the indomitable spirit of Bharat,” he said, urging people to carry forward the ideals of patriotism and harmony reflected in the song.
The event witnessed a collective rendition of Vande Mataram, echoing with national pride, followed by captivating cultural and patriotic performances by students. Priya Sethi conducted the stage proceedings, while District President Adv. Rajesh Gupta presented the vote of thanks. Rajiv Charak, Rekha Mahajan, Rashpaul Verma, Sanjita Dogra, Gopal Mahajan, Arun Sharma, Narinder Singh, MLAs Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Ch Vikram Randhawa, former MLC Charanjit Singh Khalsa, Ved Sharma, and other senior party leaders were present.
The programme was managed by the District Jammu BJP unit, including Vice Presidents Anil Masoom and Ramesh Gupta, General Secretary Ravi Kant Sharma, Narender Singh Jij, Vinod Bhalla, Parveen Kerni, Bhanu Samyal, Anuradha Sharma, Sahil Mehra, Rohit Mehra, Nipun Malhotra, and Sardar Bhupinder Singh, under the guidance of senior leadership.
Meanwhile, J&K BJP also organized a programme at its party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, which was addressed by Office Secretary Tilak Raj Gupta, Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, and Library Incharge Prof. Kulbhushan Mohtra.