National Anthem not a bargaining chip
Published on: Feb. 18, 2026, 2:59 a.m. | Source: The Tribune
With reference to ‘Our anthem embodies the idea of India’; the BJP’s push to prioritise Vande Mataram over the National Anthem reeks of political opportunism. Making it compulsory in schools, where students struggle to recite basic poems, is being tone-deaf to their abilities and disrespectful to the nation’s martyrs. If the BJP’s top leaders can sing Vande Mataram flawlessly without reading, maybe then they would qualify to dictate their wishes. This move appears to be a blatant attempt to whip up jingoism and distract the public from pressing issues. The National Anthem represents the nation’s unity and sovereignty; it shouldn’t be a bargaining chip in electoral politics.
