Varanasi, Aug. 18 -- Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising national symbols and fabricating controversies to mask administrative failures and public grievances amid the Vande Mataram row.

Speaking to reporters in Varanasi, Rai responded to recent confrontations between BJP and Congress workers, clarifying that the national song, Vande Mataram, remains an integral part of all official Congress gatherings across state, district, and city levels.

Rai asserted that while Congress regularly sings the national song at all organisational events, the BJP uses it primarily as a marketing tool and an event-management exercise.

"We sing 'Vande Mataram' at every one of our programs...