'Vande Mataram' should be our national anthem: Ramgiri Maharaj

NEW DELHI: Religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj has called for 'Vande Mataram' to replace 'Jana Gana Mana' as India's national anthem. He argued that 'Jana Gana Mana', originally composed in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in Hindi by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950.

Speaking in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, on Tuesday, Ramgiri Maharaj claimed that Tagore performed the song in Kolkata in 1911 when India was still under British rule. "Tagore sang this in front of George V, the British king responsible for injustices in India. It was not meant to address the country," he asserted.

Ramgiri Maharaj insisted that a movement was necessary to push for 'Vande Mataram' as the national anthem. "We must fight for this change," he said.

When questioned by reporters about his remarks, he clarified that his statement was not about disrespecting 'Jana Gana Mana' but about stating facts. "If speaking the truth is considered disrespectful, it is unfortunate," he added.

Ramgiri Maharaj made these comments during the trailer launch of the film 'Mission Ayodhya'.

Last year, the religious leader courted controversy over alleged objectionable remarks about Prophet Mohammad and Islam, resulting in multiple cases filed against him in Maharashtra.
(With inputs from agencies)