VIDEO | BJP alleges Sonia tried to stop Vande Mataram:Congress says she was asking for a chair

The BJP has accused Sonia Gandhi of trying to stop the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ during Independence Day celebrations. The party shared a video of the event at the Congress headquarters on X. The BJP claimed that the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was being sung when Sonia Gandhi appeared uncomfortable after the opening lines and signalled for the rendition to be stopped. The party also claimed that Rahul Gandhi appeared upset during the rendition and even after the national anthem was played. The Congress rejected the allegations, saying Sonia Gandhi did not attempt to stop the singing. It said she was merely asking for a chair for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a long time. Watch the entire incident related to the program in 4 visuals… Congress says full ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung at headquarters Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh rejected the BJP’s allegations, saying there was no attempt to stop the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ during the Independence Day programme. “There was no attempt to stop Vande Mataram. The Congress president had been standing for a long time, so Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair to be brought and placed there for him,” Ramesh said. He claimed that the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung during the August 15 programme at the Congress headquarters and no attempt was made to stop it. Ramesh said it was incorrect to interpret Sonia Gandhi’s gesture as an attempt to interrupt the rendition. Congress cites history of ‘Vande Mataram’ Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the use of ‘Vande Mataram’ was discussed at a Congress Working Committee meeting held on October 28, 1937. Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru and C. Rajagopalachari were among those present. Ramesh said that, following Rabindranath Tagore’s advice, it was decided that the opening lines of ‘Vande Mataram’ would be sung at Congress functions. He added that these lines have continued to be sung at Congress conventions and events ever since. What is the controversy over the full and shortened versions of ‘Vande Mataram’? There has been a long-standing debate over the full and shortened versions of ‘Vande Mataram’. In 1937, the Congress adopted a shortened version of the original song. The later verses contain references to Hindu deities, which had led to objections at the time. As a result, the opening lines of ‘Vande Mataram’ have traditionally been used at public and government events. The issue has resurfaced after the full version was sung at a Congress event on August 15, with the BJP turning the matter into a political controversy. What does the new law say about ‘Vande Mataram’? Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 during the Monsoon Session. The legislation gives ‘Vande Mataram’ the same legal protection as the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’. Under the new law, intentionally insulting the national anthem or obstructing its singing is a punishable offence. Against this backdrop, the BJP has raised the alleged incident at the Congress event as a political issue. ​