New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- Hours before the Lok Sabha takes up a special discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra said the national song continues to symbolise the sacrifices that fuelled India's freedom movement, urging citizens "to relive those times when our ancestors shed blood for this country, chanting Vande Mataram."

Patra further said that if "someone needs a dictionary to understand Vande Mataram, he isn't a legacy-maker," adding that the song's meaning and emotional resonance were self-evident to generations of freedom fighters.

His remarks come as Parliament prepares to commemorate the 150-year milestone of Vande Mataram through a dedicated debate today.

Patra credited the BJP governme...