Congress and the Communists upset over Union Government allotting Rs 63 lakh for Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav

What is the issue ?

A news portal called ‘The Quint’ published news under the headline ‘Modi Govt Gave
Rs 63 Lakh for Event Calling for Removing Muslims’. The news portal also published a paragraph of the reply received for its RTI query. It reads, ‘In this regard, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has provided financial assistance of Rs 63 lakh to Sanatan Sanstha, Sanatan Ashram, 24/B, Ramnathi village, Bandora, Ponda, Goa – 403401, for organizing event namely ‘Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav’ from 13th to 15th December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi under the commemoration of 150 years of National Song ‘Vande Mataram’. Break-up of the expenditure is not available with Ministry of Culture’. (This clearly means that the Ministry provided this fund to promote Vande Mataram. In fact, a beautiful exhibition based on it was also put up at the Mahotsav. However, ‘The Quint’ completely ignores this point. This raises a question on the credibility of this news portal. – Editor.)

A journalist Aditya Menon has reported this and has further said that some of the demands made at the festival were – ‘Throw away 25 percent of Indian Muslims’, ‘Make India a Hindu Rashtra’, ‘Mass conversion’ and ‘Mass deportation’ of Muslims. It said that this was backed by the Union Ministry of Culture and Delhi’s Tourism Ministry.

Some statements made during the event by ‘Sudarshan TV’ Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke, Supreme Court Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay and Hindu Fund’s Rahul Diwan have also been added to this report without proper context. Through this, ‘The Quint’ made a hollow attempt to portray the event as anti-Muslim.

Congress and the Communists have reacted sharply to this revelation. Without verifying the report, Congress Spokesperson Ragini Nayak levelled reckless allegations against the Government and Sanatan Sanstha. Addressing a press conference, Nayak said that Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Sanjay Seth, along with Delhi Minister for Culture and Tourism Kapil Mishra, and several other Union Ministers were present at the Mahotsav. She alleged that speeches were delivered at the event calling for the creation of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ by sidelining the Constitution, and that there were statements inciting violence against minorities and forced religious conversions.

Nayak’s baseless allegations against Sanatan Sanstha and others

1. Organisations like Sanatan Sanstha have been misusing and insulting the word Sanatan. To explain that the true Sanatan Dharma helps others, and not cause pain, she quoted a verse from Ramcharitmanas written by Sant Tulsidas. (The Congress quotes Ramcharitmanas to target Hindu organisations, and then it is silent when its leaders such as Rashid Alvi and Digvijaya Singh criticise it – this is just one example of their hypocrisy. – Editor)

2. The BJP and the RSS are promoting ‘poisonous ideology’, intending to destroy India’s secular structure, brotherhood and Constitution.

3. PM Modi remains silent on hate speeches. (Even if this allegation were to be true, India functions on democratic principles, not on an individual’s will. If Nayak and her party oppose hate speeches, they should file complaints against those making them. – Editor)

4. Referring to the alleged statements made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about the Muslim community, Nayak said that we should remember that such verbal shooting is not at minorities, but at the Constitution. Nayak was holding its copy. (Congress has murdered the Constitution by making many changes in it. Its blood-stained hands are again touching its copy; is this not like shooting at the Constitution ? – Editor)

5. Hate speech is used for distracting attention from important issues such as inflation, unemployment, and the state of the economy.

Adv. Vishnu Shankar Jain’s reply at lightning speed for the protection of Sanatan Dharma !

When Sanatan Prabhat requested Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who was a speaker at the Mahotsav, to reply on this matter, he responded immediately. Sanatan Prabhat conveyed, ‘You sent your response at lightning speed; thank you’. Adv. Jain replied, ‘Work related to Sanatan must indeed proceed at lightning speed !”

He said that the Rs 63 lakh grant for the Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav is only an allegation and proof is a separate issue. Even if true, there is no Constitutional violation, since the Government can fund programmes that preserve national identity and culture. Article 27 does not apply here; hence, even accepting the claim by ‘The Quint’ and the Indian National Congress, the Government is not at fault constitutionally.

Will go to Court against all organisations and media that defame us : Sanatan Sanstha

Sanatan Sanstha will approach the Court against the Congress and certain media groups. Sanatan’s Spokesperson Abhay Vartak said legal notices are being issued over false propaganda, including claims that Vande Mataram was not sung, and strict action will follow under the Constitution. He added :

1. The Delhi event saw participation of over 1,000 organisations and thousands of dignitaries.

2. On the 150^th year of Vande Mataram, a collective singing and exhibition were held; some Congress leaders opposed it, allegedly to appease Muslims.

3. Certain Communist groups and Congress-backed organisations that earlier enjoyed Government patronage are now opposing the Mahotsav, which is surprising.

(For details : SanatanPrabhat.org/English)

Editorial Perspectives

The Congress, which accuses the BJP of being anti-Constitutional, has allegedly appeased sections that place religion above the Constitution and amended it for vote-bank politics, while Hindus face neglect. Though groups like the Popular Front of India and Khalistan supporters push separatist agendas, Hindus are not demanding a separate land, but calling for a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

No speech at the Mahotsav incited violence; it focused on awakening Hindus and asserting their rights. Critics ask if the Congress is uncomfortable with this awakening of Hindus and looking for some cause.

From the Sachar Committee to alleged appeasement policies and FCRA-related issues, Congress has faced charges of anti-national conduct. Hindus are urged to question and hold the Congress accountable.

From the Sachar Committee to alleged appeasement policies, Congress has faced charges of anti-national conduct !