Tagore insulted, Nehru defamed and Gandhi erased: Congress sums up Winter Session

As Parliament’s 19-day Winter Session concluded on Friday, the Congress accused the government of disrespecting key figures who shaped modern India. The party alleged the session began with an “insult” to Rabindranath Tagore and ended with the “insult” of Mahatma Gandhi , pointing to legislative moves that replaced UPA-era schemes.

Describing the session as a pradushan kaleen (polluted) session, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said his party was ready to discuss pressing issues like air pollution, but the government was “avoiding” meaningful debate.

“We were told 14 bills would be taken up, with two being mere formalities on Manipur and supplementary demand for grants. Out of the remaining 12, five were not even introduced. Why give this information if they do not intend to bring the bills?” Ramesh questioned at a press conference.

Recalling a conversation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh , he added, “I had told him the all-party meeting is usually a formality and that at the end of the session, they come out with a BrahMos missile. He laughed. It happened again, with a bill being rushed at the end amid opposition uproar.” He was referring to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) - VB-G RAM G Bill .

Ramesh also criticized the government’s handling of the Vande Mataram debate, accusing it of “defaming Jawaharlal Nehru ” and “twisting history.” He said, “Tagore was insulted. It was on his recommendation in 1937 that the Congress Working Committee decided the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be the national song.”

He added that the session concluded with the “insult of Gandhi,” alluding to the passage of the G RAM G Bill, which replaces MGNREGA , the flagship UPA-era rural employment scheme. “ PM Modi ’s strategy was clear: to insult the three people who built modern India,” Ramesh said.