Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Pinarayi accuses Congress of soft-Hindutva shift over Vande Mataram
India has a famous song called Vande Mataram.
Some people see it as a patriotic song, while others say parts of it sound like a religious prayer.
A political group called the Congress decided to sing the whole song at its offices and at Independence Day celebrations.
A leader named Pinarayi Vijayan from another political group thinks that is a bad idea.
He believes the Congress is copying a group called the RSS and forgetting its own history.
Long ago, in 1937, the Congress itself said only the first two parts of the song should be sung.
Even in 1950, when the song was made the national song, that was still the plan.
Pinarayi also says India's highest court said in 2026 that nobody is forced to sing the song.
He thinks singing it at official events is just to please certain voters.
Now many people in Kerala are arguing about this right before Independence Day.
The Congress decided to sing the full version of Vande Mataram at its AICC headquarters and at official Independence Day functions in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.
Kerala Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Congress of embracing a 'soft-Hindutva' line and drifting from India's secular nationalist tradition.
Vijayan cited the 1937 Congress Working Committee decision that only the first two stanzas of the song should be sung on national movement platforms.
Vijayan referenced the Supreme Court's March 2026 ruling in the Mohammed Saeed Noori case, saying singing Vande Mataram at government functions is not mandatory.
The full rendition at Kerala's State Forest Department headquarters and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar singing the song at Lok Bhavan deepened the Congress-Left flashpoint ahead of Independence Day.
- Who
- Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition Leader in Kerala, the Congress party, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
- What
- A political row over the Congress's decision to sing the full version of Vande Mataram at official Independence Day functions, which Vijayan called a 'soft-Hindutva' shift.
- When
- On the eve of Independence Day (August 2026), after the Congress decision on Saturday.
- Where
- India — the AICC headquarters, Congress-ruled Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, and Kerala, including the State Forest Department headquarters and Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- Vijayan argues the move abandons the Congress's secular legacy and appeases the RSS, making Vande Mataram a flashpoint in the Congress-Left contest in Kerala.
Left and secular critics
Congress and supporters of full rendition
Full Vande Mataram rendition
Left and secular critics
Only the first two stanzas should be sung, following the 1937 Congress Working Committee decision and the 1950 Constituent Assembly intent for the national song.
Congress and supporters of full rendition
The full version of Vande Mataram should be sung, as the Congress did at the AICC headquarters and official Independence Day functions.
Whether singing is mandatory
Left and secular critics
The Supreme Court's March 2026 ruling in the Mohammed Saeed Noori case shows singing Vande Mataram at government functions is not mandatory and failure to sing is not punishable.
Congress and supporters of full rendition
Singing the national song is an expected patriotic gesture at official functions, which is why it is being performed at government events.
Congress's political direction
Left and secular critics
The decision shows the Congress adopting a 'soft-Hindutva' line, copying Sangh Parivar positions and betraying the country's secular society.
Congress and supporters of full rendition
The Congress chose to sing the full version of the national song as part of Independence Day celebrations at its headquarters and in states it governs.
- Opposition Leader (Kerala)
- Pinarayi Vijayan
- Allegation
- Congress embracing a 'soft-Hindutva' line and becoming the 'B-team of the RSS'
- Congress decision
- Sing full Vande Mataram at AICC headquarters and Independence Day functions in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana
- 1937 precedent
- Congress Working Committee decided only the first two stanzas should be sung
- National song status
- Accorded to Vande Mataram by the Constituent Assembly in 1950
- Supreme Court ruling
- March 2026, Mohammed Saeed Noori case — singing Vande Mataram at government functions not mandatory
- Kerala Governor
- Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar led singing at the Lok Bhavan Independence Day function
- Kerala flashpoint
- Full version rendered at the State Forest Department headquarters