A fresh political confrontation has erupted nationwide following the passage of a new parliamentary law governing the national song, Vande Mataram. The Congress party has officially declared that during its organizational events and party functions across Congress-governed states, only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram will be sung instead of all six stanzas. While party leaders maintained that they would fully comply with the law during official government functions, they insisted on retaining the 90-year-old practice for internal party forums. This announcement has triggered a sharp offensive from the Bharatiya Janata Party, even as Congress remains firm on its position.
Goa Event Sparks Controversy Amid New Parliamentary Legislation
The controversy intensified after a special Congress party program held in Goa, which was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. During the gathering, only two out of the six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram were recited. As soon as the incident came to light, the Bharatiya Janata Party seized upon it, framing it as an insult to the national song and igniting a major political issue. Shortly after the criticism, the Congress leadership publicly announced that it would not sing the full national song at party events.
Clarifying the party's official position, senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad stated that in government functions, the party would respect the law and recite all six stanzas of Vande Mataram. However, he emphasized that only two stanzas would be sung during Congress party programs. Notably, during the previous session of Parliament, the government enacted a law making the singing of all six stanzas of the national song mandatory for everyone. Under the provisions of this legislation, any disrespect shown to the national song or violation of the rule carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Despite the legal mandate, Congress leaders asserted that regardless of any actions taken by the government, including imprisonment, they would continue to sing the same two stanzas that have been sung for 90 years.
Sonia Gandhi Incident, Red Fort Ceremony, and Kharge's Counterattack
During this year's Independence Day celebrations, the complete six-stanza version of Vande Mataram was performed at the main official function at the historic Red Fort. However, a contrasting scene unfolded during the flag-hoisting ceremony at Congress headquarters on the same day. As Vande Mataram played, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was observed attempting to stop the national song midway. The Bharatiya Janata Party immediately turned the incident into a central political weapon, attacking Congress and raising questions about its patriotism.
Addressing party workers in Goa, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge delivered a sharp response to the BJP's allegations. Kharge stated firmly that Congress does not need lessons in patriotism from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Drawing on historical context, he questioned whether legendary freedom fighters from Mahatma Gandhi to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who also sang only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, were anti-national as well. Kharge asserted that love for the nation does not require validation or certificates from any political party.
90-Year Historical Context, Muslim League Row, and Political War of Words
Amid the escalating rhetoric, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a stern attack on Congress, alleging that the party is repeating a 90-year-old mistake originally committed under pressure from the Muslim League. Prasad claimed that Congress is avoiding full respect for the national song solely for Muslim vote-bank politics, warning that the party would have to pay a heavy political price for its stance. Responding to the charges, former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole rejected the BJP's criticism, stating that the BJP should not attempt to teach patriotism to Congress. Patole clarified that Congress workers will abide by the directives of the party high command, adding that simply enacting a law cannot alter long-standing traditions.
Historically, when Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed Vande Mataram, it served as the defining anthem of India's independence movement and a revered ode to Mother India, written without any religious distinction between Hindus and Muslims. However, during that era, the Muslim League opposed certain portions of the composition, leading to the adoption of singing only the first two stanzas as a historical compromise. Now that Parliament has codified into law that singing the complete six stanzas of Vande Mataram is compulsory for all citizens, the opposing political stances have reopened a 90-year-old historical debate.
