Tariq Hamid Karra criticizes Omar Abdullah over Vande Mataram row

Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hamid Karra has criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following a dispute regarding the rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram. The controversy arose after the full version of the song was performed at the inaugural ceremony of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir.

In response to Abdullah’s suggestion that the Congress party might expect citizens to face imprisonment over the issue, Karra described the Chief Minister’s remarks as “detached from reality and highly unfortunate.” Karra argued that the responsibility lies with the government to uphold secular and inclusive values rather than the public.

Karra cited the practices of other Indian states, such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana, where governments have limited the rendition of Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at state events. He questioned why the Chief Minister’s remarks included the people of Jammu and Kashmir when the expectations were directed exclusively at the state government.