Not the first time: Congress again finds itself in a bind as Rahul stirs ‘Bharat Mata’ controversy

The Congress party finds itself entangled in another Bharat Mata controversy after leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent address in poll-bound Rajasthan. 

After rallies in Rajasthan’s Dausa and Sikar, Rahul Gandhi reached Bundi to hold a public meeting. In Bundi, Hindauli MLA Ashok Chandna raised the slogan of Bharat Mata ki Jai, then Rahul Gandhi asked, “Who is Bharat Mata? He said, this is Mother India and every person in whom the voice of this slogan resonates is Mother India. I had also asked in the House "Who is Mother India?”

Congress’ remarks on Bharat Mata not the first time 

Notably, this is not the first time that the grand old party made remarks on “Bharat Mata.” A viral video from 2018, shows a Congress leader in Rajasthan redirecting party workers to chant 'Sonia Gandhi zindabad' instead of the traditional 'Bharat mata ki jai.' This incident had previously sparked outrage from the saffron party, labelling it as an insult to the revered national slogan.

Adding fuel to the fire, BJP president Amit Shah referred to the same video, alleging that during the Rajasthan Assembly polls, a Congress candidate hindered a party worker from chanting "Bharat mata ki jai" and encouraged slogans for former party president Sonia Gandhi.

Fast forward to 2023, and the Congress is once again under scrutiny. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the party, speaking in Parliament, declares, "The politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have resulted in the death of ‘Bharat Mata’ ('Mother India') in Manipur." This statement reignites the long-standing debate over patriotism and raises questions about the ideological clashes between the two major political parties.