A sharp political confrontation unfolded across both houses of the Karnataka legislature on Monday over the rendition of the national song Vande Mataram. The three-day special session began with the official audio system playing only the first two stanzas before being abruptly cut off, prompting Bharatiya Janata Party legislators to sing the full version inside the chambers in protest.
Assembly Proceedings Interrupted by Chants and Singing
When proceedings commenced in the legislative assembly, the scheduled audio of the national song was halted after two stanzas. Immediately following the cut, Speaker G. S. Patil permitted obituary references to begin. Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar started paying tribute to former legislator R. B. Shiriyannavar, who passed away on August 27. Objecting strongly to the truncated song, BJP members raised slogans against the government and collectively sang the remaining stanzas of Vande Mataram from their benches.
Similar Scenes Witnessed in Legislative Council
Parallel tensions arose in the legislative council as well. Chairman Salim Ahmed commenced reading the Preamble to the Constitution in line with established legislative custom, but BJP members continued singing the remaining stanzas of the national song concurrently. Once the singing concluded, the opposition members staged verbal protests against the state administration for not playing the full composition.
Session Agenda and Government Protocol Rules
The state legislature was convened for a three-day special session specifically to deliberate on the severe drought conditions gripping Karnataka and the environmental impacts tied to the Dr. Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats. Under an existing order issued by the Congress-led Karnataka government, only the opening two stanzas of Vande Mataram are to be sung or played at official government functions, with exemptions reserved exclusively for events attended by the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, or Governor.
