He then came to Bande Mataram. This was no religious cry. It was a purely political cry. The Congress had to examine it. A reference was made to Gurudev about it. And both Hindu and Muslim members of the Congress Working Committee had to come to the conclusion thatits opening lines were free from any possible objection. And he pleaded that they should be sung together by all on due occasion. It should never be a chant to insult or offend Muslims. It was to be remembered it was the cry that had fired political Bengal. Many Bengalis had given up their lives for political freedom with that cry on their lips. Though therefore he felt strongly about Bande Mataram as an ode to Mother India, he advised his League friends to refer the matter to the League.High Command. He would be surprised if in view of the growing friendliness between Hindus and Muslims the League High Command objected to the prescribed lines of Bande Mataram, the national song and national cry of Bengal which sustained her when the rest of India was almost asleep and which was so far as I (he was) am aware acclaimed by both the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal.
