Vande Mataram row explained: BJP protests, Sonia-Rahul police complaint, Congress history and the new law

Nationwide unrest erupted following accusations that senior Congress figures disrespected Vande Mataram during Independence Day ceremonies at the party's headquarters. The Bharatiya Janata Party, under Home Minister Amit Shah, escalated its criticism through demonstrations and legal action, while the Congress Party denied the allegations, accusing the ruling party of exploiting patriotism for political gain.

Amit Shah claimed Sonia Gandhi intervened during the anthem, attempting to halt its rendition. A police complaint was filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram. The BJP organized protests outside the Congress office in Srinagar, with spokesperson Altaf Thakur alleging that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge showed disrespect towards the national song.

West Bengal's BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal rejected the claims, stating that his party respects Vande Mataram and accused the BJP of weaponizing national symbols for political purposes. The song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, has faced controversy due to its later stanzas containing religious references.

The Congress has only used the first two verses in national gatherings to avoid sectarian divisions. Recent legislation criminalizes the intentional disruption of Vande Mataram at government functions.