Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Kharge Jabs Amit Shah in Vande Mataram Row
Two big political groups in India, the Congress and the BJP, are having an argument about a famous song called Vande Mataram, which is India's national song.
A leader named Mallikarjun Kharge from Congress said that Home Minister Amit Shah was just a little kid when Kharge first became a member of the state parliament.
Kharge asked why the BJP teaches them about loving their country when they did not fight for India's freedom.
This started because Amit Shah said that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi asked for the national song to be stopped in the middle at a party event.
Congress says that is not true, and that she was only asking for a chair for Kharge and the whole song was sung.
Kharge also got angry because a group did a special prayer ritual at the place where he gave a speech, to 'clean' it.
He said that is a shame for the country and that religion should not be used that way.
The other group's leader, JP Nadda, said the incident was unfortunate and that they would look into it.
Around the same time, the full song Vande Mataram was played for the first time at the big Independence Day event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort.
This year is special because the song is 150 years old.
At a public rally in Goa, 84-year-old Mallikarjun Kharge said Amit Shah was 'a child' when Kharge first became an MLA and accused him of lecturing the Congress on patriotism.
The clash follows Amit Shah's allegation that Sonia Gandhi asked for Vande Mataram to be stopped midway at the Congress headquarters' Independence Day programme.
Congress denied the claim, saying Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair for Kharge and that the full song was sung, citing Rabindranath Tagore's suggestion that only the first stanzas be sung.
Kharge condemned a 'shuddhikaran' havan performed by Shri Ram Sena on August 10 at his rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, calling it a shame on the country.
In a historic first, the full Vande Mataram was played at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, with 2026 marking 150 years of the national song.
- Who
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, and Home Minister Amit Shah, along with Sonia Gandhi, JP Nadda, and the Shri Ram Sena.
- What
- A political clash over the Vande Mataram controversy, in which Kharge jabbed Shah over his seniority, defended Congress, and condemned a purification ritual at his Haldwani rally venue.
- When
- Monday for Kharge's Goa rally, following the 80th Independence Day programme on Saturday; the havan was performed on August 10.
- Where
- Goa for the rally; Congress headquarters and the Red Fort for the Independence Day events; Haldwani, Uttarakhand for the purification havan.
- Why
- Amit Shah accused Congress of insulting Vande Mataram, and Kharge responded by challenging the BJP's patriotism and condemning the 'shuddhikaran' ritual.
Congress View
BJP View
Vande Mataram incident at Congress HQ
Congress View
Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge, and the full version of Vande Mataram was sung; Rabindranath Tagore had suggested singing only the first stanzas.
BJP View
Amit Shah alleged that Sonia Gandhi asked for Vande Mataram to be stopped midway, insulting the national song.
Patriotism and independence credentials
Congress View
Kharge asked which BJP or RSS person fought for India's independence and said the BJP had no moral authority to question Congress's patriotism, calling the BJP 'anti-India and anti-religion.'
BJP View
The BJP frames its criticism as defending respect for the national song and patriotism, accusing Congress of insulting Vande Mataram.
Purification havan at Haldwani rally venue
Congress View
The 'shuddhikaran' havan performed after Kharge's speech was a shame on the country; religion should not be reduced to such acts, and those who did it should purify themselves first.
BJP View
JP Nadda said the incident was unfortunate, denied BJP members' involvement, and assured that an inquiry would be conducted.
- Kharge's age
- 84
- Amit Shah's age
- 61
- Rally location
- Goa
- Disputed moment
- Alleged mid-song stop of Vande Mataram at Congress HQ Independence Day event
- Congress response
- Full song was sung; Sonia Gandhi had asked for a chair for Kharge
- Purification havan
- Shri Ram Sena performed 'shuddhikaran' on August 10 at Haldwani, Uttarakhand rally venue
- Legal status
- Full Vande Mataram recently given same legal protection as the National Anthem
- Historic first
- Full song played at Red Fort; 2026 marks 150 years of Vande Mataram