Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday questioned the Congress's approach towards 'Vande Mataram, saying the national song holds a deep historical significance and played an important role in India's freedom movement.

Speaking to reporters, Saha said there appeared to be a lack of proper understanding of the significance of 'Vande Mataram' among some Congress leaders. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives marking the **150th anniversary of the song**, the Chief Minister said the occasion had brought renewed attention to its contribution to the country's freedom struggle.

According to Saha, 'Vande Mataram' had inspired patriotism, courage and a spirit of sacrifice among people during the struggle for independence. He said numerous freedom fighters and citizens had drawn inspiration from the song, which helped generate a strong sense of commitment towards the nation.

The Chief Minister also criticised the opposition's conduct in Parliament, particularly targeting the Congress. He said elected representatives have every right to participate in parliamentary proceedings, but avoiding meaningful debate on important issues and instead creating disturbances outside Parliament was not appropriate.

Saha said such political behaviour could have a negative impact on public perception and reflect the priorities and mindset of the parties involved.

Turning to youth development, the Chief Minister described Tripura's human resources as one of its greatest strengths. He stressed the importance of creating accessible opportunities for students and job aspirants preparing for competitive examinations.

Saha said free, technology-enabled online examination facilities could help young people assess their preparedness and improve their performance. He welcomed such initiatives and emphasised the need to equip the state's youth with better opportunities so that Tripura's human resources can contribute more effectively to the state's future development.