Archive · 17 Aug 2026
Vande Mataram Row: Sonia Gandhi Faces Complaints After Independence Day
On Independence Day, a famous Indian song called Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress party's office.
A leader named Sonia Gandhi made some gestures and talked to another leader while the song played.
Some people from the BJP party thought she was trying to stop the song.
The Congress party said she was only asking for a chair for a leader who had been standing for a long time.
This caused a big argument between the two political parties.
People filed complaints with the police about what happened.
There is a new law that protects the national song Vande Mataram.
The law says people who disturb the singing of the song can be punished with jail time.
The police may now investigate what happened at the Congress office.
Sonia Gandhi was seen making gestures and speaking to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during a full rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day.
BJP leaders alleged she objected to the full rendition and wanted it stopped, while Congress said she was asking for a chair for Kharge.
Police complaints were filed across the nation, including one in Delhi seeking an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 now protects Vande Mataram, with penalties of up to three years' imprisonment.
BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of Vande Mataram's author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, wrote to Sonia Gandhi seeking an unconditional apology.
- Who
- Sonia Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, along with Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and BJP leaders including Amit Shah and Amit Malviya.
- What
- A controversy over Sonia Gandhi's gestures during the rendition of Vande Mataram at Congress headquarters, leading to police complaints and accusations of disrespect.
- When
- On Independence Day, August 15, 2026, shortly after Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 during the Monsoon Session.
- Where
- All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi.
- Why
- BJP leaders alleged Sonia Gandhi tried to stop the full rendition of the national song, while Congress said she was asking for a chair for Kharge.
Congress
BJP
Meaning of Sonia Gandhi's gestures
Congress
Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a considerable period; the entire song was sung and there was no controversy.
BJP
Sonia Gandhi appeared agitated and objected to the full rendition of Vande Mataram, wanting it stopped, showing disrespect to the national song.
Motivation behind the incident
Congress
Congress rejected the interpretation of disrespect and said the full song was sung without any controversy.
BJP
Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged the incident was the outcome of the Congress party's vote-bank politics.
- Event
- Controversy over Sonia Gandhi's gestures during Vande Mataram rendition
- Date of incident
- August 15, 2026 (Independence Day)
- Location
- All India Congress Committee headquarters, New Delhi
- New law
- Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026
- Maximum punishment
- Three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both
- Repeat offender penalty
- Minimum one-year imprisonment
- Complaints
- Police complaints filed across the nation; Delhi complaint seeks FIR against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
- Congress response
- Jairam Ramesh said the entire song was sung and there was no controversy; Sonia was asking for a chair for Kharge