Amra Bangali protests against 'Politicization' of Vande Mataram

The Amra Bangali Party staged a protest in front of its state headquarters, on Sunday, voicing strong opposition to what it described as the politicization of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of literary icon Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

State Secretary Gouranga Rudra Pal led the demonstration, criticizing both central and state governments for allegedly using the legacy of “Vande Mataram” for electoral gains ahead of the West Bengal elections.

Rudra Pal stated that while the song “Vande Mataram” was a revolutionary mantra for freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation, its current use in year-long government programs appears more politically motivated than a genuine tribute.

He condemned the ruling party for previously disparaging Rabindranath Tagore and branding the singing of “Amar Sonar Bangla” as sedition, yet now embracing “Vande Mataram” to appeal to Bengali sentiments.

The protest also raised serious concerns over the implementation of NRC and SIR, which the party claims are being used to disenfranchise Bengali voters and reduce them to second-class citizens. Rudra Pal cited reports from Bihar where nearly 6.5 million voter names were allegedly removed under SIR, questioning the silence of the Election Commission on the actual number of identified illegal immigrants.

He warned that the slogan of a “Developed India by 2047” may be a cover for voter suppression, as many genuine voters are now living in fear of losing their citizenship. The party highlighted cases of voter harassment and confusion over electoral rolls, where individuals were found missing from the 2002 voter list despite having voted in other regions.

Amra Bangali leaders expressed alarm over the psychological impact of these policies, claiming that fear and uncertainty have led to tragic consequences, including suicides in Bengal and elsewhere.

The party demanded that the legacy of Bankim Chandra and his patriotic song not be reduced to a political tool, and called for transparency and justice in voter registration and citizenship verification processes.