NEW DELHI, India —Congress Vande Mataram Controversy: A political row has erupted between the BJP and Congress over the singing of the national song Vande Mataram at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi on Independence Day. The dispute followed a video from the August 15 flag-hoisting ceremony that showed senior Congress leaders making gestures during the performance.
- Video triggers political row: BJP leaders accused the Congress leadership of disrespecting Vande Mataram and attempting to interrupt its full rendition.
- Congress rejects the charge: The party said there was no attempt to stop the song and that the complete rendition was performed at the event.
- Kharge’s seating cited: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the gestures were related to arranging a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time.
- Historical debate resurfaces: The BJP and Congress have also invoked the 1937 decision concerning which verses of Vande Mataram should be sung at Congress gatherings.
Congress Vande Mataram Controversy Begins With Viral Video
The controversy centres on footage recorded during the Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters. Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were present on the stage during the ceremony.
According to the material surrounding the viral clip, all six stanzas of Vande Mataram were being performed when Sonia Gandhi and Kharge were seen speaking to each other and making gestures towards people involved in the programme. Rahul Gandhi was also later seen making a similar gesture.
The footage quickly became a subject of political commentary, with BJP leaders and critics interpreting the gestures as an indication that the Congress leadership wanted the complete rendition to be stopped.
BJP Accuses Congress of Disrespecting Vande Mataram
Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly criticised the Congress over the episode. He described the alleged conduct as unacceptable and linked Vande Mataram with the sacrifices made by freedom fighters during India’s independence movement.
Shah alleged that the Congress had disrespected the national song because of vote-bank politics. He also demanded that Sonia Gandhi apologise to the country and to the memory of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
BJP leaders also highlighted the significance of the year as the 150th anniversary year of Vande Mataram. They argued that any attempt to stop its complete rendition would reflect an approach they strongly criticised.
Congress Says There Was No Attempt to Stop the Song
The Congress has rejected the BJP’s interpretation of the video. Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the controversy was being unnecessarily amplified and denied that anyone had attempted to interrupt the performance.
Ramesh said Kharge had been standing for a considerable period and that Sonia Gandhi’s gesture was intended to arrange a chair so that the Congress president could sit down. The party also stressed that the complete Vande Mataram was sung during the programme.
The Congress further referred to the historical discussion surrounding the song at its gatherings. Ramesh said that in October 1937, following suggestions from Rabindranath Tagore, it was decided in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose that the first two verses would be sung at Congress sessions because of their inclusive character.
Why the 1937 Decision Has Returned to the Political Debate
The dispute has expanded beyond the video itself because both parties are invoking the historical treatment of Vande Mataram within the Congress movement.
The BJP has pointed to the 1937 Congress Working Committee decision concerning the use of the first two verses, arguing that the party’s position today remains influenced by that historical compromise. The Congress, meanwhile, has cited the circumstances behind that decision as part of its defence.
Vande Mataram Row Takes Place Amid Wider Political Tensions
The latest dispute comes amid renewed political attention around Vande Mataram during the conclusion of Parliament’s Monsoon Session and the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Questions surrounding protocol and the absence of opposition leaders from the Red Fort ceremony had also been part of the political discussion. Against this backdrop, the AICC video has become another flashpoint in the wider contest between the BJP and Congress over nationalism, history and national symbols.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the Congress Vande Mataram controversy?
A video from the Independence Day programme at Congress headquarters showing senior Congress leaders making gestures during the singing of Vande Mataram triggered the political dispute.
What is Congress’s explanation for the gestures?
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the gestures were related to arranging a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time, and not an attempt to stop the song.
What Happens Next?
The political dispute is likely to remain centred on two competing interpretations of the same Independence Day footage. The BJP has treated the gestures as an issue of respect for Vande Mataram, while the Congress maintains that the song was completed and that the gestures had a practical purpose.
Source attribution: This report is based exclusively on the source material supplied for this article, including the statements and claims attributed to BJP leaders and Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
