Ajay Rai Accuses BJP of Weaponizing Vande Mataram in Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of hijacking national symbols to mask administrative failures. The confrontation, ignited by a dispute over the singing of Vande Mataram, highlights a deepening rift between the two parties in Varanasi as both sides trade allegations of performative patriotism.

Editorial·August 18, 2026·reads: 2,045

Ajay Rai Accuses BJP of Weaponizing Vande Mataram in Varanasi

Rai dismissed the recent friction as a calculated distraction, arguing that his party has long integrated the national song into its foundational events. During a press conference, he characterized the BJP’s recent fervor not as genuine devotion, but as a marketing tactic designed to deflect public scrutiny from police misconduct and systemic corruption.

The tension recently reached a boiling point in Banaras, where Rai alleged that BJP activists staged a provocative march toward Congress offices. He claimed the demonstrators struggled to perform the song correctly, suggesting their display lacked the historical depth they frequently boast about. By framing the BJP as an organization disconnected from the freedom movement, Rai is positioning the local conflict as a broader battle over who holds the legitimate right to define national identity.