Bankim descendant seeks Sonia apology over ‘Vande Mataram’ row

BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi over 'Vande Matram' rowNEW DELHI: The row over the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day acquired a Bankim Chandra connection on, with BJP’s Naihati MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a direct descendant of the national song’s author, writing to Sonia Gandhi on Saturday and demanding an unconditional apology to the country, particularly West Bengal.The controversy erupted after a video from the Congress’s August 15 function showed Sonia gesturing and speaking to party president Mallikarjun Kharge while the full version of Vande Mataram was being sung. BJP leaders alleged she was trying to have the rendition stopped after the opening stanzas. Congre