BJP accuses Congress leaders of disrespecting national song at event

A political controversy erupted following India's Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 2026, after video footage from the Indian National Congress headquarters in New Delhi showed senior leaders gesturing during the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram. The Bharatiya Janata Party accused Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the song, while the Congress party firmly denied the allegations, stating the gestures were unrelated to the performance.

The dispute centers on events at the All India Congress Committee headquarters during a flag-hoisting ceremony. BJP leaders, citing the video, alleged that after the initial stanzas of Vande Mataram were sung, Sonia Gandhi appeared agitated and signaled for the rendition to stop. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi called it an "ugly moment" and demanded an apology. BJP IT department head Amit Malviya amplified the accusations on August 16, stating that for the first time, the entire six-stanza version of the song was sung at the Congress headquarters, and that the leadership's reaction was visible....