New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Thursday hit out at the BJP over the ongoing controversy surrounding the singing of Vande Mataram and rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's allegations of minority appeasement.

Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury backed Congress' position on the "two stanza" version of Vande Mataram and said that party leaders had sacrificed their lives while singing the national song in the fight against colonial rule.

"Our ancestors sacrificed their lives while singing 'Vande Mataram'. Where were you people (BJP) then? For so many years, you were also singing this same version. You have been in power for 12 years, and you were singing the very same version. Did you suddenly remember this overnight?" she ...