NEW DELHI : DMK MP A Raja on Monday claimed that historically documented events show that Vande Mataram was projected in ways that excluded Muslims in the early 20th century, arguing that the controversy surrounding the song was not created by the community but by those who framed it as a “Hindu-only” anthem.

Participating in a Lok Sabha discussion marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, Raja said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech prompted “four fundamental questions” in his mind.

“The prime minister asked who did the division in Vande Mataram. I want to know – did the division in Vande Mataram lead to the division of the country? And if the prime minister says a crucial aspect must be dealt with today, what exactly is that crucial division we need to understand now?” he asked.

Raja sa

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