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Congress to Sing Only Two Stanzas of Vande Mataram, BJP Attacks Decision
M
Moneycontrol•20-08-2026, 00:42
Congress to Sing Only Two Stanzas of Vande Mataram, BJP Attacks Decision
- •The Congress Working Committee (CWC) decided to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events, citing a 1937 resolution.
- •The BJP sharply criticized the move, questioning the Congress' nationalist credentials and calling the decision "extremely condemnable."
- •BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress of undermining its role in the freedom struggle and becoming the "new Muslim League."
- •Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed the decision, stating it reflects the position taken by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
- •The controversy intensified after BJP criticized Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for singing an "incomplete" version of the song, which Kharge defended as historically consistent.
Key Questions Answered
The Congress decided to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events, maintaining that this decision reflects a 1937 resolution by its senior leadership, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel. This approach was also influenced by concerns over religious imagery in later verses of the song.
The decision by the Congress to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram has led to sharp criticism from the BJP, which has questioned the Congress's nationalist credentials and its role in India's freedom struggle. Critics have also raised questions about the Congress's consistency in approaching cultural and patriotic expressions.
