Vande Mataram row: Complaint filed against Sonia, Rahul
A complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over alleged obstruction during the singing of the national song “Vande Mataram” at the Independence Day function at the Congress headquarters here. The complaint, filed by an advocate, was submitted at the IP Estate police station on August 16.
According to the complaint, the Independence Day function was organised at the AICC headquarters on August 15, during which “Vande Mataram” was being sung. It alleges that Sonia Gandhi, who was present at the function, made gestures after the initial portion of the National Song had been sung, which the complainant claimed appeared to indicate an objection to its continuation. The complaint also refers to a video in which Rahul Gandhi is allegedly heard saying, “We are not singing Vande Mataram.”
The complainant has sought an impartial investigation and appropriate action against both leaders if they are found responsible.
The BJP on Sunday hit out at the Congress, alleging that its top leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge showed “utter disrespect” towards the national song when it was being sung at the party’s Independence Day event, and demanded an apology from them.
Several leaders of the ruling BJP also accused Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the event, a charge that the Congress denied, asserting that there was no attempt to stop the singing of the full version of the song. Last month, Parliament passed a bill that makes any insult to the national song a punishable offence.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha on July 30, a day after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha. The law grants status to Vande Mataram on par with the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
