Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri | Photo credit:
Uttara Kannada BJP MP Vishveshwara Kageri sparked controversy by claiming that the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” was “originally written to welcome British officials” and that “Vande Mataram” should have been chosen as India’s national anthem instead. The former assembly speaker and MP’s statement came at an event in Honnavar to mark 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’.
The MP’s remark drew sharp criticism from RDPR and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge, who called it a “WhatsApp history lesson” and “absolute nonsense”.
Responding to a post on X, Mr Kharge wrote: “Another day, another lesson from RSS ‘History of WhatsApp’. BJP MP Sri Kageri now claims our national anthem is ‘British’.” He pointed out that Rabindranath Tagore had made it clear in 1937 and 1939 that it was never “George, Vcould of India” or VI. George”, as Mr Kageri claimed and falsely claimed on social media.
Targeting the RSS, Mr Kharge alleged that the organization had a “tradition of disrespecting the Constitution, the tricolor and the national anthem”.
Labor Minister Santosh Lad also questioned Mr Kageri’s sudden change in attitude. “Their (BJP’s) contribution to the freedom movement itself is nothing. He used to sing Jana Gana Man himself. Why is he doing this all of a sudden?” asked Mr. Lad.
Published – 06 Nov 2025 21:40 IST
