New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lamented that the Constitution was "throttled" and the nation was shackled by the Emergency when the national song "Vande Mataram" marked its 100th anniversary. He was greeted by chants of Vannde Mataram 

Initiating a day-long discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha, Modi noted that Vande Mataram stood like a rock, inspiring unity despite British oppression.

"Vande Mataram was written at a time when British rulers were trying to take their anthem 'God Save the Queen' to every household."Vande Mataram is not just a mantra for political freedom; it was a sacred war cry to rid Bharat Mata of vestiges of colonialism, Modi said, opening the discussion on the national song.

"When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the nation was chained by the Emergency. At that time, the Constitution was throttled, and those who lived and died for patriotism were pushed behind bars," he said.

"The Emergency was a dark chapter in our history. Now we have the opportunity to restore the greatness of Vande Mataram. And I believe this opportunity should not be allowed to pass," Modi said.

Modi noted that the mantra of Vande Mataram gave power and inspiration to the entire country during freedom struggle.

"The mantra energised and inspired India’s freedom movement and showed the path of courage and determination. Remembering that sacred Vande Mataram today is a great privilege for all of us in this House.

"It is a matter of pride for us that we are witnessing the historic occasion of Vande Mataram completing 150 years," he said.

He recalled that the British were forced to ban Vande Mataram even though they brought in laws to prevent the printing and propagation of the poem.

"Vande Mataram was written at a time when, after the uprising of 1857, the British government was alarmed and unleashing various forms of oppression. A campaign was underway to push the British national anthem 'God Save the Queen' into every household.

"Through Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay responded to this challenge with great strength and resolve. The British divided Bengal in 1905, but Vande Mataram stood like a rock and inspired unity," he said.

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He accused Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru of pandering to the whims of the Muhammad Ali-led Muslim League on the singing of Vande Mataram. Jinnah criticised the song, and instead of condemning the former, Nehru decided to renew the decision to sing it at the Congress session.