New Delhi. The beginning of the monsoon session of Gujarat Assembly was quite turbulent. The issue of insulting 'Vande Mataram' by a Congress MLA in the House gained momentum. Actually, Congress MLA Imran Khedawala first stood up from his seat during the singing of Vande Mataram and then immediately sat down and remained sitting throughout the singing of Vande Mataram. BJP is furious over this action of Congress MLA. BJP has lodged a strong protest and demanded an apology. Praveen Mali, minister in the BJP government of Gujarat, said that Imran Khedawala has insulted not only Vande Mataram but the entire country.
Mali said that not standing while singing Vande Mataram is like insulting Mother India. This is a violation of the parliamentary traditions of the country. He cornered Congress on this issue and said that it should clarify its stand on this. Congress should tell whether what Imran Khedawala did is his personal matter or the party is also in favor of it. Such an incident has never happened before in the Assembly. Mali has also asked to meet the Assembly Speaker to complain about the Congress MLA and demand action from him as per the constitutional process. Congress does not have any issue so now it is doing politics on Vande Mataram.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat: Minister Pravin Mali says, “During the Monsoon Session, when it begins, there has been a tradition of starting with Vande Mataram. Today, when Congress MLA Imran Khedawala stood up when Vande Mataram started, he immediately sat down. This is not only an… pic.twitter.com/MEjw6LdWRR
— IANS (@ians_india) September 9, 2026
Let us tell you that according to the new guidelines of the Home Ministry, it is mandatory to play the entire 'Vande Mataram' in government programs. However, Congress has expressed objection to singing the entire Vande Mataram. Congress clearly says that the party will follow only the 1937 version regarding 'Vande Mataram'. On 19 August, the Congress Working Committee again accepted its resolution of 1937 and decided to sing only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' in the Congress programs. BJP is already attacking Congress regarding this.