Vande Mataram row erupts in INDIA bloc: Congress objects, ally NC hits back, BJP pounces

The disagreement has exposed differences within the INDIA bloc, with the Congress objecting to the full version while the NC rejected the argument, saying the Congress cannot dictate terms to its alliance partners.

Congress objects to full version of Vande Mataram

Congress MP KC Venugopal argued that the complete six-stanza version of Vande Mataram conflicts with India's syncretic ethos.

In a post on X, Venugopal urged INDIA bloc allies to follow the 1937 Congress resolution, under which only the first two stanzas were adopted for public singing to avoid communalisation of the song.

His remarks came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah were seen standing through the complete song at the International Film Festival of Kashmir in Srinagar on September 8, 2026.

Venugopal wrote, "With respect and humility, we would like our allies to honour the wisdom and judgment of our freedom fighters, and stand with us in singing only the version of this beautiful and historic song that they adopted."

"That version was chosen deliberately, to keep the song from being communalised — a threat as real today as it was then. Upholding it is how we uphold the secular, inclusive character of our Republic," he added.

NC says Congress cannot dictate terms

Rejecting the Congress' position, NC leader Bashir Ahmed said alliance partners cannot dictate how much of the national song should be sung.

"As alliance partner you can't dictate terms whether to sing or how much to sing. Venugopal has the right to tweet, but can't impose. It is people's choice. We are against imposing anything on people," Bashir Ahmed was quoted as saying by NDTV.

BJP hits back at Congress

Seizing on the disagreement within the opposition alliance, BJP National Executive member Amit Malviya hit back at Venugopal, rejecting the claim that singing the full version of Vande Mataram conflicts with India's pluralist ethos.

Malviya described the argument as a false choice and said a confident India can embrace the complete national song without infringing on anyone's faith or rights.

He argued that the 1937 Congress decision to use only the first two stanzas does not override the Constituent Assembly's 1950 decision to grant Vande Mataram equal status alongside Jana Gana Mana.

Malviya also referred to historical disagreements within the Congress, including the views of C. Rajagopalachari.

‘Pluralism is not the art of deleting what makes us uncomfortable’

In a post on X, Malviya wrote, "Secularism cannot mean treating every expression of India’s civilisational heritage as a threat to minorities. Pluralism is not the art of deleting what makes us uncomfortable."

"It is the confidence to let India’s many traditions coexist and to honour Vande Mataram in full, without apology or qualification. Vande Mataram is not the negation of India’s pluralism. It is part of India’s national inheritance," he added.