New Delhi, June 26 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said 'Vande Mataram' is not merely a patriotic song but a "mantra for the reconstruction of India", as he paid tributes to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on his birth anniversary while addressing a meeting on the country's anti-narcotics strategy.
At the 10th apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD), Shah stated that June 26 is a significant day for the country's campaign against narcotics.
He said it also marks the birth anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who played a key role in awakening the nation's self-confidence during British rule.
"Bankim Babu composed 'Vande Mataram'. 'Vande Mataram' became a powerful symbol of the nation's cultural conscio...