Vande Mataram Row: BJP Targets Sonia Gandhi, Congress Hits Back With ‘Chair’ Explanation

A fresh political controversy erupted on Independence Day after the BJP accused Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the full rendition of Vande Mataram at a Congress event in New Delhi. The Congress rejected the allegation, saying Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time.

BJP Levels Serious Allegations

The controversy began after a video from the Congress's Independence Day programme circulated online. BJP leaders claimed Sonia Gandhi appeared uncomfortable when the rendition continued beyond the initial stanzas.

BJP leaders criticised the Congress leadership, arguing that Vande Mataram holds an important place in India's freedom struggle and national consciousness. BJP spokespersons alleged that the incident reflected the Congress's attitude towards the national song.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also questioned the alleged reaction of the Congress leaders during the rendition and linked the controversy to the broader debate over the complete version of the song.

Congress Rejects BJP’s Charge

The Congress strongly denied that Sonia Gandhi attempted to stop the song. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the interpretation of the video was incorrect.

According to Ramesh, Gandhi was concerned that Mallikarjun Kharge had been standing for a long period and was simply asking for a chair for him. He categorically rejected the allegation that she wanted the full version of Vande Mataram to be stopped.

Ramesh also referred to the Congress Working Committee's 1937 decision concerning the rendition of Vande Mataram at Congress sessions, arguing that the party's historical position on the song should be understood in its proper context.

Political Battle Intensifies

The dispute comes amid a wider political debate over the complete rendition of Vande Mataram. This year's Independence Day celebrations also marked 150 years of Vande Mataram, with the full six-stanza version being rendered at the Red Fort for the first time during the Independence Day ceremony.

The latest controversy has once again brought national symbols, political interpretation and the history of Vande Mataram into the centre of a heated BJP-Congress exchange.

What Happened at the Event?

While BJP leaders interpreted Sonia Gandhi's gestures as an objection to the full rendition, the Congress offered a different explanation, saying she was trying to arrange seating for Kharge. With both sides sticking to their positions, the incident has quickly become another flashpoint in the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and Congress.