Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Karnataka Minister Defends Two-Stanza Vande Mataram Policy, Challenges BJP
Karnataka has decided that only the first two parts of Vande Mataram will usually be sung at government events.
This rule does not apply to events attended by certain top constitutional officials.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the decision follows an older resolution and the views of respected national leaders.
The Union Home Ministry has separately said all six parts should be sung before the National Anthem when both songs are used together.
The BJP criticized Karnataka’s decision as appeasement politics.
Kharge said the BJP and RSS were using the issue to distract people from problems such as jobs and exam concerns.
He also challenged BJP leaders to provide evidence for allegations connected to the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
Kharge additionally described recent Enforcement Directorate raids involving a Congress minister as politically motivated.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended limiting Vande Mataram to two stanzas at most official state events.
The exemption applies to programmes attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister or governor.
Kharge said the policy follows decisions associated with Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and other national leaders.
The Union Home Ministry directed that all six stanzas be sung before Jana Gana Mana when both are played together.
The BJP called Karnataka’s decision appeasement politics, while Kharge accused it of diverting attention from economic and governance issues.
- Who
- Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, the Congress government, and opposition BJP leaders.
- What
- A dispute over Karnataka limiting Vande Mataram to two stanzas at most official events, alongside Kharge’s criticism of the BJP and RSS.
- When
- The report was published on Friday, September 11; it also references a January Union Home Ministry directive and an August 19 Congress Working Committee decision.
- Where
- Bengaluru and Karnataka.
- Why
- The Karnataka government says the policy follows earlier decisions by prominent national leaders, while the BJP says it reflects appeasement politics.
Congress Government’s Position
BJP’s Position
How Vande Mataram should be sung
Congress Government’s Position
The Karnataka government says limiting official events to the first two stanzas follows the approach associated with earlier national leaders and the Congress’s 1937 resolution.
BJP’s Position
The BJP criticized the limitation and objected to the Congress government’s handling of the national song.
Political meaning of the decision
Congress Government’s Position
Priyank Kharge said the policy is based on historical decisions and accused the BJP and RSS of using the issue to build a political narrative and distract from governance concerns.
BJP’s Position
The BJP described the decision as appeasement politics and criticized the timing and substance of the state government’s stance.
KPSC and investigative allegations
Congress Government’s Position
Kharge demanded evidence for claims linking ministers to Karnataka Public Service Commission irregularities and called Enforcement Directorate raids on opposition figures politically motivated.
BJP’s Position
Opposition leader R Ashoka alleged that two more ministers, including Kharge, might resign in connection with KPSC-related irregularities.
- Karnataka policy
- Only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram are to be sung at state government programmes, except those attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister or governor.
- Central directive
- The Union Home Ministry directed that all six stanzas be sung before Jana Gana Mana when both are played together.
- Congress decision
- The Congress Working Committee decided on August 19 to follow its 1937 resolution limiting Vande Mataram to two stanzas at party events.
- BJP response
- The BJP in Karnataka called the state government’s decision appeasement politics.
- Kharge’s criticism
- Kharge said the BJP and RSS were raising the issue to divert attention from economic conditions, employment, NEET irregularities and public service commission matters.
- KPSC allegations
- Kharge challenged BJP leaders to present documents supporting allegations that ministers could resign over Karnataka Public Service Commission irregularities.
- Enforcement Directorate raids
- Kharge described recent raids involving Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi as politically motivated and claimed 196 raids had produced only two convictions.