A political controversy erupted at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day after the national song, Vande Mataram, was sung in full during the flag-hoisting ceremony. The BJP alleged that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi questioned the decision to sing the entire song and tried to stop it. Congress rejected the claim and said no one interrupted the singing.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the controversy was based on a misunderstanding. He said Sonia Gandhi was actually asking for a chair for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a long time.
BJP Attacks Congress Over Vande Mataram
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain criticised Congress over the controversy. Speaking to NDTV, Hussain said it was “very unfortunate” that the singing of Vande Mataram was allegedly prevented at the Congress office. He also claimed that the song had faced restrictions during earlier Congress-led governments. Hussain further criticised Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for not attending the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Congress Says Sonia Gandhi Was Asking for a Chair
Congress strongly denied the BJP’s allegations. Jairam Ramesh said there was “no controversy” over Vande Mataram. According to him, Sonia Gandhi was not asking anyone to stop the song.
Instead, she was concerned about Kharge standing for a long time and was asking for a chair to be brought for him. Ramesh also said the entire Vande Mataram was sung at the Congress headquarters and that nobody interfered with the performance.
Why Congress Sings Two Stanzas of Vande Mataram
Ramesh also referred to the Congress Working Committee meeting held in Calcutta on October 28, 1937. He said Rabindranath Tagore had advised that only the opening lines of Vande Mataram should be sung at Congress meetings.
The clarification came after photos and videos from the Independence Day event circulated online, triggering a fresh political clash between the BJP and Congress.
Sudeep Singh Rawat is a Copy Editor at NewsX Digital with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He covers national and international news, with a focus on politics, crime, technology, public affairs, and trending topics. Before joining NewsX Digital, he worked with Business Standard, The Sunday Guardian, and other digital media organisations. His reporting focuses on breaking news, enterprise stories, and explainers that inform readers through accurate, balanced, and context-driven journalism.
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