Archive · 16 Aug 2026
BJP chief Nitin Nabin accuses Congress of Vande Mataram disrespect
India has a special song called Vande Mataram that many people love, because freedom fighters sang it long ago when India became independent.
On Independence Day, a big political party called the Congress had a celebration at its office.
The leader of the BJP, Nitin Nabin, said that during the celebration a senior Congress leader named Sonia Gandhi asked for the song to be stopped.
He said this was very disrespectful to the song and to the country.
He also said the Congress government in Kerala did not include the song at all in its Independence Day event.
The BJP asked the Congress leaders to say sorry for what happened.
But the Congress said the whole story is not true.
They said Sonia Gandhi was not stopping the song; she was just asking for a chair for another leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, because he had been standing for a while.
So the two parties disagree about what really happened at the celebration.
BJP president Nitin Nabin accused Congress of disrespecting the national song Vande Mataram, calling it 'dirty politics of appeasement'.
Nabin alleged Sonia Gandhi signalled to stop the full version of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters' Independence Day event on Saturday.
He also alleged that the Congress government in Kerala completely removed Vande Mataram from its Independence Day celebrations.
Several BJP leaders claimed Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge showed 'utter disrespect' and demanded an apology from them.
Congress denied the charges, saying Sonia Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a while.
- Who
- BJP president Nitin Nabin and other BJP leaders, who accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of disrespecting Vande Mataram.
- What
- The BJP accused the Congress of showing disrespect to the national song Vande Mataram at a party Independence Day event and in Kerala's celebrations; the Congress denied the charge.
- When
- Sunday, August 16, following the Congress party's Independence Day event held on Saturday.
- Where
- New Delhi, at the Congress headquarters; the accusation also involved Kerala's Independence Day celebrations.
- Why
- Nabin claimed the Congress disrespected the song for what he called 'dirty politics of appeasement' and 'distorted thinking'.
Congress
BJP
The Vande Mataram incident at Congress HQ
Congress
No such attempt was made; Sonia Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a while.
BJP
Sonia Gandhi signalled to stop the full version of Vande Mataram, and top leaders showed 'utter disrespect' to the national song.
Motivation behind the allegations
Congress
The party denied the allegations, saying the charges were false and no such attempt was made.
BJP
The disrespect stems from the Congress' 'dirty politics of appeasement' and 'distorted thinking'; Nabin said the party bows to hardliners and has insulted freedom fighters.
- Accuser
- BJP president Nitin Nabin
- Accused
- Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge
- Allegation
- Disrespect to Vande Mataram at Congress headquarters' Independence Day event
- Congress response
- Denied the charge; Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge, not stopping the song
- Date of incident
- Saturday's Independence Day event; statements made Sunday, August 16
- Location
- New Delhi, Congress headquarters
- Related allegation
- Congress government in Kerala removed Vande Mataram from its Independence Day celebrations
- BJP demand
- An apology from the Congress leaders