‘Vande Mataram’ not accepted from heart by some after Independence, says Amit Shah

August 21, 2026

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that for a long time after India’s Independence and Partition, ‘Vande Mataram’ was not accepted from the core of the heart by some people.

Speaking at an event organised for Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officers and personnel in Siliguri, Darjeeling district, Shah said the national song was sung in Parliament, with everyone standing, but the entire ‘Vande Mataram’ was not sung even after Independence and Partition.

Shah recalls 80th Independence Day ceremony

Shah said this year’s Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort was different as the entire ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung for the first time.

He said he had attended the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag since 2015.

Shah described ‘Vande Mataram’ as a unique creation of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, saying it gave momentum to India’s freedom movement and presented a vision of what an independent India should be like.

Shah praises Bengal government over border fencing

Shah also praised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who shared the stage with him, for speeding up land allotment for border fencing.

He said the state government had already allotted 1,129 acres of land for border fencing.

Shah said he had earlier repeatedly requested former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to allot land for the fencing but claimed that his requests were not accepted.

He said the Centre had sought the land for border security and the safety of the country, rather than for any political party.

Home Minister pays tribute to Bismillah Khan

Shah also paid tribute to legendary shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan on his death anniversary.

Recalling an anecdote about the musician, Shah said Bismillah Khan had once been asked where he derived the greatest joy from playing the shehnai despite performing before Parliament, Presidents and at major events.

According to Shah, Bismillah Khan replied that he found no greater joy than playing the shehnai on the banks of the Ganga in the morning in the presence of Kashi Vishwanath.

Shah made the remarks while interacting with SSB personnel and laying the foundation stone for various SSB projects in Siliguri.