Independence Day: BJP accuses Sonia of objecting to Vande Mataram
The BJP and Congress traded accusations on Saturday over an alleged objection by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi during the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the party's Independence Day event.
The BJP accused Gandhi of objecting to the rendition and questioning party workers while the national song was being sung. The Congress rejected the allegation, saying Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time.
BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal shared video footage of the Congress event on X and accused Gandhi of showing disrespect towards Vande Mataram, calling it a symbol of India's freedom struggle and national consciousness.
“The scene that has come to light today on Independence Day is utterly shameful,” Agarwal said, alleging that Gandhi's actions reflected the Congress' attitude towards the national song.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh denied that there was any attempt to stop the full version from being sung. He said the complete song was in fact rendered at the party's Indira Bhawan event.
Ramesh also cited the Congress Working Committee's 1937 decision, taken after consultations involving Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and other senior leaders, to use the initial stanzas of Vande Mataram at Congress sessions.
He said the party had continued to follow that practice, but stressed that the full version was sung at Saturday's event.
“As the Congress president was standing for a long time, Soniaji was asking for a chair for him,” Ramesh said, rejecting the BJP's allegation that she had sought to stop the rendition.
The controversy comes amid a wider political debate over Vande Mataram. Parliament last month passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides for punishment for insulting the national song and accords Vande Mataram a status on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
