NEW DELHI: Congress has announced its speakers for the Vande Mataram debate set to take place in Lok Sabha on Monday.The leaders likely to represent the party in the debate include Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, and A Bimol Akoijam, the party said on Saturday, according to news agency PTI. Others expected to be on the list are Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy, and Jyotsana Mahant.The debate is part of the 150th anniversary celebration of Vande Mataram, the national song. The initiative is supposed to build a strong movement that reconnects citizens with the song’s original revolutionary spirit.The debate will begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday noon, while home minister Amit Shah will speak in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, PTI sources said.Vande Mataram was composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji. It was first included in his novel Anandamath and later became a rallying cry during India’s freedom movement.
