BJP accuses Sonia Gandhi of objecting to Vande Mataram recitation, Congress denies

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged on Saturday that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi objected to the full rendition of Vande Mataram during the Congress party’s Independence Day celebration. The Congress refuted this claim, stating that Sonia Gandhi was requesting a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for an extended period.

BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh shared a video on X, expressing concern that "Mother, son, and national president seem to be upset by the rendering of the full Vande Mataram." This situation appears to reflect a longstanding mindset that has not changed from before independence in 1947 to the present day.

Congress MP Anurag Thakur further emphasized the discomfort some party leaders feel regarding the recitation of Vande Mataram, emphasizing it as a matter of respect for the entire nation rather than a party-specific protocol issue. BJP accused Congress of employing "petty and appeasement politics," demanding an apology from its leaders to the people of India.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed to a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Calcutta on October 28, 1937, where it was decided, on advice from Rabindranath Tagore, that only the opening lines of Vande Mataram would be sung at Congress gatherings. Ramesh noted that the full version of the national anthem was sung at each session since then, and accused the BJP of attempting to prevent this practice. He also stated that the full version was sung on Saturday, contradicting the BJP’s claim.