Patna

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday slammed the Congress for its decision to sing the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' at all party events, calling it an "insult to Bharat Mata".

Chouhan, who arrived in Patna on a day-long visit, accused the Congress of playing vote bank politics over the singing of the national song.

"The Congress decision to sing only two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' is an insult to 'Bharat Mata'. It is a disdain for those thousands of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation," he claimed.

The union minister's comment came after the Congress Working Committee on Wednesday decided to abide by the 1937 resolution of its highest decision-making body on 'Vande Mataram', saying only two stanzas of the national song would be sung at all party events henceforth.

"The Congress is doing the same thing that the Muslim League did in 1937," Chouhan claimed.

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During the day, he met Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in the state capital. "The land of Bihar is the land of knowledge, culture and a glorious history. Today, in Patna, I had a meeting with the CM," he added.