India, Dec. 12 -- The Congress did not give the national song, Vande Mataram the respect it deserved, Bharatiya Janata Party president and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda said on Thursday even as the opposition party protested and accused the government of wanting to malign India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the special discussion on Vande Mataram, Nadda said his intention was not to tarnish Nehru's legacy but put things on records. "They cite the Nehruvian age when they want to take credit." he said adding, that as the head of the party and later the government, the blame should also lie with Nehru.

He said a mere nine minutes were allocated for a discussion on the nationa...