The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a strong protest against comments made by Karnataka MP Visheshwar Hegde Kageri concerning the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The political party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to fabricate divisive narratives around India's patriotic symbols.
Political Clash Over National Symbols
The controversy erupted on November 8, 2025, following remarks by BJP MP Visheshwar Hegde Kageri. The TMC, through its representative, vehemently opposed the statements, which they believe were designed to create an unnecessary and false dichotomy between two revered figures and their creations.
A TMC leader, Panja The core of the TMC's accusation lies in the belief that the BJP is engineering a cultural and political conflict where none should exist. The party argues that both Vande Mataram, from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Anandamath, and Jana Gana Mana, written by Rabindranath Tagore, hold esteemed places in India's history and should not be presented as being in competition. By framing the issue as a binary conflict, the TMC alleges that the BJP is engaging in a dangerous game of polarisation. The party's protest highlights its stance against what it perceives as an attack on the nation's syncretic cultural fabric and a disrespect towards the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. This incident has intensified the ongoing political tussle between the TMC and the BJP, particularly in the context of cultural nationalism. The protest underscores the increasingly contentious debates surrounding national identity and symbols in Indian politics. The TMC's public condemnation serves to position the party as a defender of what it calls India's inclusive heritage, directly challenging the BJP's narrative. The fallout from this event is likely to fuel further political discourse in the coming days, as parties solidify their positions ahead of future electoral battles. The date of the event, November 8, 2025, marks a significant point in this continuing political rivalry.Accusations of a Manufactured Divide
Implications and Political Fallout
