Mumbai, Sept. 9 -- Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over the ongoing controversy surrounding Vande Mataram, alleging that Congress leaders were disrespecting the national song for vote-bank politics.

"By refusing to sing 'Vande Mataram' and disrespecting it, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and their entire party are insulting the nation. This will cost them dearly in 2029. When they face the electorate then, the public will ask why they should vote for a party that showed disrespect to 'Vande Mataram'," Bawankule said.

He accused the Congress of engaging in vote-bank politics and predicted that the party would find itself in an even worse position than it was in 2014.

"They ...