As India celebrates 150 years of its national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan on Friday accused the Congress party and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of deliberately tampering with the song to suit a “communal agenda.”

Writing ahead of the nationwide commemoration on his social media, Kesavan said the full, original version of ‘Vande Mataram’ has undergone unfair alteration with references to Goddess Durga removed.

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“’Vande Mataram’ was never meant to belong to a single religion or language. It is a hymn of love for the motherland, unity, and sacrifice. Yet, Congress under Nehru’s leadership in 1937 deliberately truncated it, removing verses praising Goddess Durga, citing religious concerns,” Kesavan said.

He added that this move, he believes, be

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