Archive · 20 Aug 2026
BJP Accuses Congress of Appeasement Over Vande Mataram Decision
The Congress party decided that its events would use only the first two parts of Vande Mataram.
It said this followed a decision made by its Working Committee in 1937.
The BJP strongly criticized this choice.
BJP leaders said the Congress was trying to please a particular group of voters.
They called the Congress the new Muslim League.
They also said dividing the song in the past had caused serious consequences for the country.
Congress's stated position in this report is that it will follow the 1937 resolution.
The disagreement is about whether singing only two stanzas respects the song and the country's history.
The Congress decided to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at its events.
The Congress said it would follow a 1937 Congress Working Committee resolution on the national song.
The BJP accused the Congress of vote-bank and Muslim appeasement politics.
Amit Shah and other BJP leaders said the decision repeated a historical mistake linked to the 1937 resolution.
BJP leaders argued that the full song represents national unity, sacrifice, and respect for freedom fighters.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, including senior BJP leaders.
- What
- The Congress decided to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram at its events, prompting criticism from the BJP.
- When
- The Congress decision was reported on Wednesday; the BJP's criticism was reported on August 20.
- Where
- At Congress party events and in public statements and posts on X.
- Why
- The Congress said it was following a 1937 Congress Working Committee resolution; the BJP alleged the decision was driven by appeasement and vote-bank politics.
Congress Position
BJP Position
How the song should be performed
Congress Position
The Congress decided to follow the 1937 Working Committee resolution and sing only the first two stanzas at its events.
BJP Position
The BJP said the full song should be performed and accused the Congress of insulting Vande Mataram.
Reason for the decision
Congress Position
The Congress's stated explanation in the report is that it is abiding by the 1937 resolution.
BJP Position
BJP leaders alleged that the decision was intended to appease a vote bank and Muslim voters.
Historical significance
Congress Position
The Congress position presented in the report is based on its earlier institutional resolution.
BJP Position
The BJP said the 1937 division of the song contributed to the consequences that preceded Partition and represented a historical mistake.
- Congress decision
- Only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram will be sung at Congress events.
- Historical reference
- The Congress linked its decision to a 1937 resolution of its Working Committee.
- BJP accusation
- BJP leaders described the decision as appeasement and vote-bank politics.
- Amit Shah's position
- The Union home minister said the song had previously been fragmented in 1937 and that the country suffered the consequences.
- J P Nadda's position
- He said the government had sought to give legal form to the full singing of the song at government functions.
- Other criticism
- BJP leaders said limiting the song insulted Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and freedom fighters.