BJP, Congress clash over Sonia Gandhi’s alleged Vande Mataram objection

The BJP and Congress locked horns on Saturday (August 15) over the singing of Vande Mataram at the grand old party’s Independence Day programme, after the saffron party accused Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the singing of the full version of the national song at the party's Independence Day event. The Congress rejected the allegation, stating that Sonia was asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time.

BJP accuses Sonia over Vande Mataram

BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal posted video footage from the event on X and criticised Sonia’s alleged reaction. "The scene that has come to light today on Independence Day is utterly shameful," he said.

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Agarwal further alleged Sonia questioned Congress workers while Vande Mataram was being sung. "Sonia Gandhi's objection during the rendition of India's national song, 'Vande Mataram', and her questioning of Congress workers as to why it was being played exposes the Congress party's mindset,” he added.

He also questioned the party's association with the freedom movement, asking, "Is this the same Congress that lays claim to the legacy of the nation's freedom struggle?"

Agarwal said the alleged conduct brought back memories of the Congress's "Emergency mindset" and claimed voters had rejected such an approach.

Congress rejects allegation

Denying the allegation, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that there had been no effort to interrupt the complete rendition of Vande Mataram.

He referred to a Congress Working Committee meeting held in Calcutta on October 28, 1937, attended by Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Govind Ballabh Pant and C Rajagopalachari.

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Ramesh said Rabindranath Tagore advised that the opening stanzas should be sung at Congress sessions. "We have been singing those lines in every session since then; our Seva Dal sings it, our workers sing it; there is no controversy over that," he added.

‘Full version sung at event’

He said the full version was sung at Saturday's programme at Indira Bhawan. "But today, at Indira Bhawan, the full version was sung; there is no question of a controversy over it," Ramesh added.

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He also gave an explanation for Sonia’s actions. "As the Congress president was standing for a long time, Soniaji was asking for a chair for him," he said.

The dispute comes days after Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The Lok Sabha cleared it by voice vote on July 30, following Rajya Sabha approval a day earlier. The law places Vande Mataram on the same legal footing as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

(With agency inputs)