India, Dec. 9 -- Opposition MPs lashed out at the Government on Monday over the "Vande Mataram" debate in the Lok Sabha, calling it an attempt at diverting attention and dividing the country. Some of them also claimed that the debate was started keeping in mind next year's West Bengal Assembly polls.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the BJP of committing a "big sin" by creating a controversy over Vande Mataram and claimed that the Government pushed for a debate on the national song as the West Bengal assembly polls were approaching. She hit out at PM Modi, saying "he is not the prime minister he used to be, as his self-confidence is decreasing and his policies are weakening the country".

Samajwadi Par...