Congress divided over Vande Mataram controversy:Councillor Bhadauria questions refusal to sing; alleges possible deal with mayor behind stance shift

The Vande Mataram controversy that occurred during the Indore Municipal Corporation’s budget session has now moved beyond the realm of religion and nationalism to take a political form. On the surface, it appears to be a battle for the honor of the national song, but at its core, allegations are being made of Congress infighting and a major conspiracy related to the municipal corporation’s power. At the root of this is the old discord between Congress city president and Leader of Opposition in the corporation Chintu Chouksey and corporator Fauzia Sheikh Aleem. Raju Bhadauria, a Congress corporator and supporter of Chintu Chouksey, has leveled several allegations against his own party’s corporator Fauzia Sheikh Aleem. Bhadauria has stated that there was a deal between Fauzia Sheikh and Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav to spread propaganda. Principles have been set aside due to personal gain and political bargaining. Fauzia Sheikh’s husband Sheikh Aleem wants to contest the Bar Council election. They want to win the bar election by playing the politics of religion. On the other hand, when questions were asked to the state Congress president in Bhopal, he appeared evasive. He said that when the party makes a decision, they will inform. Then Fauzia sang Vande Mataram with respect Councillor Raju Bhadauriya said that both the Mayor and Sheikh Aleem did politics together. Sheikh Aleem’s wife Fauzia Sheikh has been the Leader of Opposition, and at that time she sang Vande Mataram standing together with respect many times. If Fauzia never sang Vande Mataram with respect in the corporation, she at least stood with respect. Even now when she used to come to the council, Vande Mataram would be sung and she would stand. Then what happened this time that you deliberately reached the council one hour late, whereas her first question was during the debate. Fauzia could have refused Councillor Raju Bhadauriya alleged that during the debate in the Municipal Corporation, when Fauzia Sheikh arrived late, Suresh Kurwade asked Fauzia whether she did not want to sing Vande Mataram? In response, Fauzia could have refused, but what was the need for her to say that no one’s father can make us sing. No one can force us. There was no need to use such words in the Corporation at that time. This has been done by the Mayor and Sheikh Aleem as part of a strategy. The Mayor got this done so that there would be no debate on the budget speech, no debate on the city’s major issues as well as Bhagiratpura, if there had been a debate, the Mayor’s dark secrets would have been exposed. Jeetu Patwari said – We are not obligated When PCC Chief Jitu Patwari was questioned about this matter in Bhopal, he initially appeared to sidestep the issue. When the question was repeated, he said that there is no need to explain or hide the importance of the national anthem and national song to anyone. As far as any Congress corporator making a statement is concerned, the party will inform when it takes a decision on it. The matter is under cognizance. When the media asked when the decision would be taken, Patwari said – I am not obliged to tell you when the decision will be taken. When the decision is taken, we will inform. Chintu versus Fouzia: The fight is for the Leader of Opposition’s chair According to sources, there has been a two-way split in the Indore Congress for quite some time. One faction is led by Chintu Chaukse while the other faction consists of Fauzia Sheikh and her supporters. Chintu Chaukse holds two positions – City President and Leader of Opposition. Fauzia’s team wants her to also have some position. Fauzia has already served as Leader of Opposition for 5 years before. Therefore, she wants Chintu to resign from this position and let her have this chair. Dispute between Sheikh Aleem and Chintu occurred in 2023 On May 13, 2023, after a meeting called by the Mayor on the issue of Swachh Survekshan (Cleanliness Survey), Leader of Opposition Chintu Chaukse and State President of Minority Cell Sheikh Aleem clashed. When it came to physical altercation, other leaders separated the two. The dispute was over the matter of representing the councillors’ side. After the meeting ended, Congress corporators were standing outside in the premises, when Congress leader Sheikh Aleem told Chokse to take care of the corporators as they were getting upset. Hearing this, Chokse got angry and started saying, “Who are you to give me advice?” “What to do and what not to do, I will see to it myself.” When it came to the point of physical altercation, corporator’s husband Rafiq Khan, Deepu Yadav took Chintu Chokse aside and tried to make him understand. See these pictures… Anwar Dakait also sang Vande Mataram A video surfaced from the Indore Municipal Corporation during the 2024-25 budget session, in which Congress’s former councilor Anwar Dakait can also be seen standing near Chintu Chaukse singing Vande Mataram. Several such videos have emerged in which some Muslim councilors including Fauzia Sheikh and Rubina Khan can be seen singing Vande Mataram. Some are silent but standing. On the other hand, on Friday in Indore, BJP’s former councilor Usman Patel organized a collective Vande Mataram, in which people from the minority community gathered and sang Vande Mataram. Showing dreams of 2050 while serving dirty water Bhadauria said that the Mayor wants to show dreams of 2050, but the situation in 2026 is that the public is forced to drink dirty water in the wards of Indore city. There are potholes everywhere. The clean Indore that we had has been tarnished by this Mayor. These people singing Vande Mataram are making such a big issue today. Vande Mataram used to be sung at Congress national conventions before independence. Back then, both Hindus and Muslims used to sing it and this tradition has continued since then. If no Muslim brother had any objection to it then, why now? This is a conspiracy carried out as a strategy in Indore. Now understand the complete matter During the budget discussion at Indore Municipal Corporation on Wednesday (April 8), Congress corporators Fauzia Sheikh Aleem and Rubina Iqbal refused to sing ‘Vande Mataram’. On the chairperson’s instruction, Fauzia said that she should be shown the Act which makes singing ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory. After this, when Rubina was asked that Congress has distanced itself from her statement, she flared up upon hearing this. She said that the Congress party can go to hell. Congress washes its hands off on such occasions. Congress is only for taking votes from Muslims. It’s not like there’s any contract with Congress. We will join Owaisi’s party AIMIM. Rubina further said that whatever decision Congress takes, she will accept it. If they keep me, fine; if they don’t keep me or remove me, that’s also okay. I am ready for every decision.