Stories
Priyank Kharge Challenges BJP on Vande Mataram Stanzas, Offers Resignation
- •Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the state's decision to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at official events, intensifying a row with the BJP.
- •Kharge challenged BJP leaders BY Vijayendra and R Ashoka to sing all six stanzas without aid, stating he would resign if they succeeded.
- •He questioned the BJP and PM Modi's push for all six stanzas, citing that forefathers like Nehru, Bose, and Tagore decided on only two stanzas.
- •The Union Home Ministry directed in January that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung before the National Anthem, marking its 150th year.
- •A PIL has been filed in the Karnataka High Court challenging the state government's order, arguing it contradicts Union government instructions for the full six-stanza composition.
Key Questions Answered
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge challenged BJP state president BY Vijayendra and senior leader R Ashoka to sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram without using a teleprompter or looking at a piece of paper. Kharge declared that if they successfully do so, he will resign from his post.
The Congress Working Committee decided on August 19 to follow its 1937 resolution, which restricts the singing of Vande Mataram to the first two stanzas at party events. Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, stated that this shorter version was originally agreed upon by national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Vallabhbhai Patel.
Advocate Girish Bharadwaj filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Karnataka High Court challenging the state government's order to restrict the song to two stanzas. The petition argues that the state's directive is contrary to the Union Home Ministry's July 9, 2026, guidelines, which mandate the complete six-stanza version for mass singing programmes.
