Melaka heads to 16th state election as state assembly dissolved

In a standoff between Karnataka's Governor and the Congress government, the Governor has urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to reconsider a Government Order issued on September 8 restricting the rendition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' to just two stanzas. The Governor contended that this restriction is "contrary to the guidelines laid down by the Union Government" and in violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026.

The Congress has maintained its stance, reaffirming the two-stanza rendition in its working committee. During the commencement of a special session of the Legislature on September 22 to discuss drought and the K. Kasturirangan report, Congress and BJP members clashed when only two stanzas were played, while the BJP and JD(S) rendered the entire song.

The Governor pointed out that the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued specific orders regarding the national song and anthem, and the statutory protection under the 1971 Act has been extended to 'Vande Mataram' through the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026. He referred to constitutional articles to highlight the state's limitations in issuing such an order and emphasized the need for state executive action to be harmonized with the central statutory and executive framework.