Karnataka restricts Vande Mataram to two stanzas

The Karnataka government has issued an order restricting the singing of Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at most state government programmes, departing from the Union government's directive that the full six-stanza version be performed at official events. The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms on Thursday, September 10, follows a decision by the state Cabinet on the playing and singing of the national song at government programmes and functions held in Karnataka. According to the order, only the first two stanzas shall be sung in programmes organised by the state government, except at events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor. One report also states that the full six-verse rendition will apply at events represented by the Central government, though the exact scope of that exemption remains unclear from the order's reported text. The order was issued by Sandeep BK, Under Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.