Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Karnataka Congress Backs CWC’s Two-Stanza Vande Mataram Decision
The Congress Working Committee decided that Congress would sing only the first two parts of Vande Mataram.
Karnataka Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad said this was appropriate because the song originally had two stanzas.
He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the issue for politics.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Arvind Bellad disagreed strongly.
He said Vande Mataram inspired young people and freedom fighters during India’s freedom struggle.
Bellad accused Congress of showing disrespect toward Indian culture and patriotism.
Both parties are using the disagreement to present themselves as more patriotic.
The argument is part of a larger discussion about how Vande Mataram should be sung at public events.
Karnataka Congress President B.K. Hariprasad supported the Congress Working Committee’s decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
Hariprasad said the song originally had two stanzas when Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote it in 1875.
He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of politicising Vande Mataram and challenged its leaders to sing the National Anthem at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh shakhas.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Arvind Bellad accused Congress of disrespecting Indian culture, patriotism and the freedom movement.
The dispute is part of a broader political debate over Vande Mataram’s role at official and public events.
- Who
- Karnataka Congress leaders, including B.K. Hariprasad, and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Arvind Bellad.
- What
- A political dispute over the Congress Working Committee’s decision to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
- When
- The exchange took place on Thursday, amid a wider debate over the song’s use at public and official events.
- Where
- Karnataka, with Hariprasad speaking in Bengaluru.
- Why
- Congress says the decision reflects the song’s original two-stanza form, while the Bharatiya Janata Party says it shows disrespect for Indian culture, patriotism and the freedom movement.
Congress position
Bharatiya Janata Party position
Number of stanzas
Congress position
Congress supports singing only the first two stanzas, citing the song’s original form.
Bharatiya Janata Party position
The Bharatiya Janata Party criticises Congress for limiting its participation in the song.
Patriotism and culture
Congress position
B.K. Hariprasad says the Bharatiya Janata Party is politicising Vande Mataram and denies that Congress’s position involves appeasement.
Bharatiya Janata Party position
Arvind Bellad says Congress is disrespecting Indian culture, patriotism and the national movement.
Historical legacy
Congress position
Congress emphasises that the song originally comprised two stanzas when written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875.
Bharatiya Janata Party position
The Bharatiya Janata Party stresses that Vande Mataram inspired youths and freedom fighters during India’s freedom struggle.
- Decision
- The Congress Working Committee decided that Congress would sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
- Congress position
- B.K. Hariprasad said Congress would continue singing only two stanzas.
- Historical claim
- Hariprasad said Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s song originally comprised two stanzas when written in 1875.
- Bharatiya Janata Party response
- Arvind Bellad said the decision showed that Congress had no connection with patriotism.
- Freedom movement
- Bellad said Vande Mataram inspired youths and freedom fighters during the freedom struggle.
- Broader context
- The disagreement concerns the place of Vande Mataram at official and public events.