Kolkata, Aug. 16 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari demanded an "unconditional apology" from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of insulting the national song Vande Mataram, patriotism and its author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
The controversy stems from gestures of Sonia Gandhi during the rendition of the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram at the Independence Day programme at the headquarters of the Indian National Congress on Saturday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that she had tried to stop it, while the Congress denied the charge.
Addressing a press conference at Nabanna on Sunday, Adhikari alleged that Gandhi had expressed her objection and displeasure when the full version of Vande Mataram was sung a...