Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Maharashtra Congress Challenges BJP Over Vande Mataram Dispute
The BJP accused the Congress of disrespecting India’s national song, Vande Mataram.
Maharashtra Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal rejected that accusation.
He said Congress has followed the shorter version chosen by freedom-struggle leaders for about 90 years.
He said the BJP should instead encourage the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to sing the song at its shakhas.
Sapkal also discussed a youth campaign called Chhatron Ki Goonj.
He said anyone can join the campaign by scanning a QR code.
Its Pune event will focus on young women and girl students.
The campaign aims to learn about young people’s problems and raise them with the appropriate authorities.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said the party has sung the shorter version of Vande Mataram for about 90 years.
Sapkal said the version was recommended by a committee led by Rabindranath Tagore and adopted under Subhas Chandra Bose’s Congress presidency.
He accused the BJP of creating a misleading narrative and asked it to encourage Vande Mataram’s singing at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh shakhas.
Sapkal said the Chhatron Ki Goonj campaign in Pune is open to everyone and will not use the Congress name or logo.
The campaign’s Pune event will be for young women and girl students and will focus on youth concerns.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Congress, led on this issue by Harshwardhan Sapkal, responded to allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- The Congress defended its use of the shorter version of Vande Mataram and criticized the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh over the issue.
- When
- The statement was made on Thursday; the Pune campaign event was scheduled for Saturday.
- Where
- The political dispute concerns Maharashtra, while the youth campaign event is scheduled in Pune.
- Why
- The Congress responded to the BJP’s allegation that it was insulting Vande Mataram and promoted its youth campaign addressing young people’s concerns.
Congress’s Position
BJP’s Allegation
Version of Vande Mataram
Congress’s Position
The Congress says it is following the shorter version decided by national leaders during the freedom struggle and has done so for about 90 years.
BJP’s Allegation
The BJP alleges that the Congress is insulting the national song by its approach to Vande Mataram.
RSS shakhas and patriotism
Congress’s Position
The Congress says the BJP should focus on encouraging the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to sing Vande Mataram at its shakhas and accuses the RSS of having a past record of not hoisting the national flag at its headquarters for a long period.
BJP’s Allegation
The BJP is presented by the Congress as using the song dispute to create a misleading political narrative; the article does not include a direct BJP response to the RSS-related criticism.
Chhatron Ki Goonj participation
Congress’s Position
The Congress says its Pune campaign is non-political, will not use its logo or name, and is open to anyone who scans the QR code.
BJP’s Allegation
Sapkal said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that only students from educational institutions run by Congress leaders were being invited; the article does not include Fadnavis’s direct statement.
- Congress position
- The party says it has sung the shorter version of Vande Mataram for about 90 years.
- Historical basis cited
- Sapkal said the shorter version was recommended by a committee headed by Rabindranath Tagore and adopted at a Congress meeting presided over by Subhas Chandra Bose.
- Congress criticism
- Sapkal accused the BJP of trying to create a misleading narrative and urged it to promote singing Vande Mataram at RSS shakhas.
- Campaign name
- Chhatron Ki Goonj
- Campaign participation
- Sapkal said anyone can participate by scanning a QR code, regardless of caste, religion or political party.
- Pune event
- The event is intended exclusively for young women and girl students.
- Campaign purpose
- The campaign aims to understand young people’s issues through direct interaction and raise them at the appropriate level.