The Congress on Tuesday slammed Union minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy over his “Italian blood” remarks against Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and called him a “frustrated man”.
The former Karnataka chief minister added that as far as Vande Mataram is concerned, whatever gestures and incidents took place at the Congress Independence Day programme, “they (Congress leaders) are now giving various explanations, saying that Sonia Gandhi made those gestures merely to indicate that a chair should be placed there… But the people will see the truth and judge for themselves. It is not so easy anymore to tell lies and get away with them. “She’d married a person in India, Indian citizen. She’s basically from Italy. Her birthplace is Italy. He underlined that despite losing her husband, Gandhi remains an Indian, fighting for an inclusive India, a just India and a democratic India.
Earlier reporting noted: BJP accuses Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram in Goa The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) accused the Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram in Goa, after allegedly insulting the National Song at its Delhi headquarters on Independence Day. He said India’s first President Rajendra Prasad had accepted Vande Mataram as the National Song on January 24, 1950, while Jana Gana Mana was declared the National Anthem.
Kumaraswamy, whose party is part of the ruling NDA, referred to claims that Gandhi was trying to stop “Vande Mataram” being played in full at the Congress headquarters at the Independence Day event, and questioned her allegiance to the nation, saying: “Italian blood flows in her veins. Speaking to reporters, the JD(S) second-in-command said Sonia Gandhi is not from India. That’s why she always- whatever- Indian sentiment is there, she is opposing,” he said. He said Kumaraswamy was talking about nationality, though he had joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi and helping him run a “dictator-type style of government. Earlier reporting noted: Responding to the BJP’s charge, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he sang the same version that was followed by national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Earlier reporting noted: BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, at a press conference, said the Congress had “compromised national symbols and the core values of its own freedom movement”.
He talks about Sonia Gandhi that way. He should know that she is more Indian than many Indians. Her husband sacrificed his life for the nation’s security. Her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi ji, sacrificed her life for the unity of this nation.”
The Congress slammed the Union minister of heavy industries, whom they termed a “frustrated man”. Karnataka minister and Congress leader Rizwan Arshad said: “What can we expect from a frustrated man?
