Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Sonia Gandhi Vande Mataram row: Congress, TMC, DMK defend her
In India's Parliament, people sang a famous national song called Vande Mataram.
While it was being sung, some people thought a leader named Sonia Gandhi did something rude.
The ruling party and its supporters were upset with her.
Her own party, the Congress, and two other parties said people misunderstood her.
They say she was simply asking for a chair because her party's president, Mr. Kharge, had been standing for a long time.
They also said she praised a minister for singing the song properly.
A leader from another party said it is unfair to call someone anti-national just because they cannot sing every verse of the song.
A different party asked the Congress to explain its rules about when Vande Mataram should be sung.
Right now, different sides are still arguing about what really happened.
Sonia Gandhi faces backlash over her conduct during the rendition of Vande Mataram in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Monsoon Session.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh defended her, saying she was asking for a chair for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, not trying to stop the song.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said Gandhi praised Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for singing in sync with the national song, calling the row a forced controversy.
TMC MP Kirti Azad challenged BJP MPs to sing all six verses of Vande Mataram, asking whether failing to do so makes one anti-national.
CPI-M General Secretary M A Baby sought clarity from the Congress on its position, noting Kerala played only the national anthem while Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh played the full song.
- Who
- Sonia Gandhi, a senior Congress leader, facing criticism; supported by the Congress, Trinamool Congress and DMK; CPI-M General Secretary M A Baby sought a clarification
- What
- A political controversy over Sonia Gandhi's conduct during the rendition of the national song Vande Mataram in the Rajya Sabha
- When
- On the last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament (no specific date given in the reports)
- Where
- Rajya Sabha in New Delhi, India
- Why
- Critics alleged Gandhi showed disrespect toward the national song; her defenders say the controversy is manufactured and she was only arranging a chair for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress-led opposition
BJP and critics
Sonia Gandhi's conduct during Vande Mataram
Congress-led opposition
Congress, TMC and DMK say her actions were misconstrued: she was arranging a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge and praised Kiren Rijiju, with no attempt to stop the song.
BJP and critics
BJP and critics are holding her accountable for a gesture seen as disrespectful to the national song during the Rajya Sabha rendition.
Rendering the full version of Vande Mataram
Congress-led opposition
TMC MP Kirti Azad argues that inability to sing all six verses does not make one anti-national and challenges BJP MPs to sing them.
BJP and critics
CPI-M General Secretary M A Baby flags confusion over when the full-length song is played and asks the Congress to clarify its official position on reciting Vande Mataram.
- Main figure
- Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader
- Event
- Rendition of Vande Mataram in the Rajya Sabha
- Timing
- Last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament
- Key defence
- Gandhi was asking for a chair for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, not stopping the song
- Supporters
- Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK
- Seeking clarity
- CPI-M General Secretary M A Baby
- Congress-ruled states cited
- Kerala (national anthem only); Telangana, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh (full-length Vande Mataram)