Congress leaders defend Vande Mataram rendition amid BJP criticism

A political controversy has erupted in India following the rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram, during Independence Day celebrations at the Indian National Congress headquarters. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, of disrespecting the song after video footage appeared to show them conversing or gesturing while it was being sung.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has defended the party, asserting that the version sung is the same one used by historical leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Kharge challenged the BJP to file legal cases against these founding leaders if the specific rendition is considered a crime. He maintained that the Congress is simply following a 90-year-old tradition.

BJP leaders have countered by calling the Congress leadership “small-minded” and “anti-national,” alleging that the party has a history of appeasement politics. Some BJP representatives have called for legal action against Sonia Gandhi, citing potential violations regarding the respect due to the national song. Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress President B. K. Hariprasad stated the party would continue to sing only two stanzas of the song, dismissing the allegations as a conspiracy by the BJP and RSS.