A major political controversy has erupted following the Independence Day celebrations at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has leveled serious allegations against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, claiming that they attempted to interrupt or stop the rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram. However, the Congress party has swiftly moved to clarify the situation, dismissing these claims as baseless and part of a malicious agenda. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh addressed the media to provide a detailed explanation of the events that transpired during the flag-hoisting ceremony at the party office.
Congress Refutes BJP Allegations
Jairam Ramesh categorically denied that Sonia Gandhi had any intention of stopping the singing of Vande Mataram. According to Ramesh, the interaction captured in the video, which the BJP has been circulating, was misunderstood. He explained that Sonia Gandhi was actually expressing concern for Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President, who had been standing for a considerable amount of time. She was reportedly asking for a chair to be brought for him. Ramesh emphasized that the entire program was conducted in strict adherence to the new legal requirements and protocols established for the national song, while he stated that the full version of Vande Mataram was sung without any interruption from any leader present on the stage. Congress leader Pawan Khera also issued a clarification, stating that there was no disruption during the Vande Mataram performance at the Congress headquarters and the event proceeded smoothly.
The Legal Framework: Prevention of Insult to National Honor Amendment Bill 2026
The controversy is set against the backdrop of new legislation regarding national symbols. The government introduced and passed the Prevention of Insult to National Honor (Amendment) Bill 2026 during the recent monsoon session of Parliament. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 29 July and subsequently in the Lok Sabha on 30 July. Following the approval of President Droupadi Murmu, Vande Mataram has received additional legal protection under the law related to national honor. These new provisions make it a punishable offense to intentionally insult or obstruct the singing of Vande Mataram. This amendment is seen as an effort to bring the national song on par with the national anthem in terms of legal protection and respect.
New Protocol for Vande Mataram
The government has also issued a new protocol regarding the singing of Vande Mataram, while according to the guidelines released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it's now mandatory to sing the full version of the national song, consisting of all 6 stanzas, instead of just the first 2 stanzas. This full version has a duration of approximately 3 minutes 10 seconds. These guidelines apply to official government programs and schools. Under the new rules, instructions have also been given to arrange for the playing or singing of Vande Mataram before or after the national anthem in certain formal government events, following the prescribed protocol, while the Congress party maintains that they followed this exact protocol during their Independence Day event.
Political Debate and Shashi Tharoor's Stance
The mandatory singing of the full version of Vande Mataram has become a focal point of political debate. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised questions regarding the mandatory nature of this requirement, while tharoor argued that respect for a song can't be created through legislation alone. He also pointed out practical difficulties, such as the physical strain on people who have to remain standing for the extended duration of 3 minutes 10 seconds during long programs. This shift from the traditional 2 stanzas to the full 6 stanzas is what the Congress party claims was being implemented at their headquarters, leading to the confusion that the BJP has allegedly exploited for political gain.