Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Karnataka BJP MLA Walks Out Over Vande Mataram Protocol
A government event was held in Shivamogga for International Democracy Day.
Vande Mataram was played during the programme.
The song stopped after two stanzas.
BJP MLA S N Channabasappa wanted all six stanzas to be played.
He objected to the district officials and then left the event.
Some Dalit Sangharsha Samithi members argued that officials had to follow the applicable government order.
Karnataka’s government order limits the song to two stanzas at routine state functions.
A Union Home Ministry directive calls for all six stanzas before Jana Gana Mana when both songs are played together.
The two instructions have led to disagreement over which protocol officials should follow.
Shivamogga BJP MLA S N Channabasappa walked out of a government event after only two stanzas of Vande Mataram were recited.
The incident occurred during an International Democracy Day programme at Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Shivamogga.
Channabasappa asked the district administration to play the full six-stanza version of the national song.
The administration followed a Karnataka government order limiting Vande Mataram to two stanzas at routine state functions.
The Union Home Ministry has directed that all six stanzas be sung before Jana Gana Mana when both songs are played together.
- Who
- Shivamogga BJP MLA S N Channabasappa, the district administration, senior officers and Dalit Sangharsha Samithi members were involved.
- What
- Channabasappa walked out after the administration recited only two stanzas of Vande Mataram and declined to play the full version.
- When
- The incident took place on Tuesday; the Karnataka order was issued on September 10, 2026, and the Union directive was issued in January.
- Where
- Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
- Why
- Channabasappa sought all six stanzas, while officials followed Karnataka’s directive limiting routine state functions to two stanzas.
Karnataka Government Protocol
MLA’s Objection
Number of stanzas
Karnataka Government Protocol
The Karnataka government directed officials to recite only the first two stanzas at routine state functions, and the district administration followed that order.
MLA’s Objection
S N Channabasappa argued that the full version, described in the reports as six stanzas, should have been played.
Which guidance applies
Karnataka Government Protocol
Officials said they had to follow the state government’s protocol because acting otherwise could expose them to government action.
MLA’s Objection
Channabasappa’s position was aligned with the Union Home Ministry directive calling for all six stanzas before Jana Gana Mana when both songs are played together.
Political disagreement
Karnataka Government Protocol
Dalit Sangharsha Samithi members said officials could not be faulted for following the state order and suggested that the government should amend it if necessary.
MLA’s Objection
Channabasappa said he would not participate in a function where Vande Mataram was not respected and walked out.
- Event
- International Democracy Day government programme
- Venue
- Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan, Shivamogga
- MLA
- S N Channabasappa, Shivamogga BJP MLA
- Song performed
- The first two stanzas of Vande Mataram
- Karnataka order
- Issued September 10, 2026; limits the song to two stanzas at routine state functions
- Union directive
- Issued in January; calls for all six stanzas before Jana Gana Mana when both are played together
- District officials
- The Deputy Commissioner of Shivamogga and other senior officers attended
