The Congress Working Committee has reaffirmed its decision to sing only the first two stanzas of the national song, Vande Mataram, at party events. This policy aligns with a 1937 resolution supported by historical leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. The government, however, recently mandated the full version be sung at public gatherings and official functions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly condemned the move, with spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi labeling the Congress a "new Muslim League." The BJP argues that the decision reflects a lack of patriotism and places party interests above the Constitution and the nation. This criticism follows recent incidents where Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, were accused of failing to sing the full version.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal dismissed the BJP's accusations as a distraction from pressing national issues. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge defended the practice by noting that the shortened version was historically accepted by prominent figures across the political spectrum. He challenged the BJP by suggesting that if the practice is deemed criminal, then historical leaders should also be held accountable.
