Congress Reaffirms Decision to Sing Only Two Stanzas of Vande Mataram

The Indian National Congress has reaffirmed its decision to sing only the first two stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram at its party events, a stance rooted in a nearly nine-decade-old resolution. The decision was formalized by the Congress Working Committee at a meeting on August 19, 2026, and has intensified a political debate with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over the rendition of the patriotic composition.

The controversy was triggered by allegations that senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, disrupted the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the party's Independence Day event in Delhi. A video from the function showed Gandhi gesturing while the song was played. The BJP subsequently attacked the Congress over the incident, and the Delhi Police confirmed they were looking into a complaint alleging intentional obstruction of the national song. This occurred shortly after the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Act, which criminalizes insults to the national song, came into effect.

Following the BJP's criticism, the Congress Working Committee met and resolved to continue its practice based on a 1937 CWC resolution. AICC general...