Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Congress Backs Two-Stanza Vande Mataram, Drawing BJP Criticism
The Congress party has decided that its events will sing only the first two parts of Vande Mataram.
Congress leaders say this follows a decision made by their Working Committee in 1937.
They said Rabindranath Tagore advised that only those two stanzas should be used.
They also said they are following choices made by leaders of India’s independence movement.
The government has recently included the complete song in official protocol.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticized Congress and Mani Shankar Aiyar over the decision.
He said all six stanzas had been sung publicly from the beginning.
Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal said the song should bring people together and accused the BJP of using it to divide the country.
The Congress Working Committee reaffirmed that Congress events will recite only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
Mani Shankar Aiyar said the policy follows a 1937 CWC decision reportedly made on Rabindranath Tagore’s advice.
Congress leaders said they were following decisions associated with Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh called Aiyar a “puppet” and “parrot” of Rahul Gandhi, and accused Congress of being anti-India.
The Centre has recently included the complete rendition of Vande Mataram in official protocol, while Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal accused the BJP of using the song to divide the country.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress, its Congress Working Committee and leaders including Mani Shankar Aiyar, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Udit Raj and Gurdeep Singh Sappal; Union Minister Giriraj Singh also commented.
- What
- The CWC reaffirmed that Congress events will recite only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, prompting criticism from Giriraj Singh.
- When
- The CWC resolution was made on Wednesday, and Congress leaders and Giriraj Singh commented on Thursday.
- Where
- The policy concerns Congress events; the statements were reported from New Delhi and given to IANS. A related controversy involved an Independence Day rendition at Indira Bhawan, the Congress headquarters.
- Why
- Congress leaders said they were preserving a 1937 tradition and following decisions associated with freedom fighters; the Centre’s recent inclusion of the complete rendition in official protocol heightened the significance.
Congress position
BJP and government criticism
How much of the song should be recited
Congress position
Congress leaders support reciting only the first two stanzas at party events, citing a 1937 CWC decision and the path followed by freedom fighters.
BJP and government criticism
Giriraj Singh criticized Congress’s position and said Vande Mataram carries the soul and culture of the country; he claimed all six stanzas had been publicly sung from the beginning.
Historical legitimacy
Congress position
Congress leaders said the policy reflects decisions associated with Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad and other national leaders.
BJP and government criticism
Giriraj Singh said the current Congress is not the Congress associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the Congress of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Political meaning of Vande Mataram
Congress position
Gurdeep Singh Sappal said Congress adopted Vande Mataram in 1896 and that the slogan is meant to unite the country; he alleged the BJP uses it to divide people.
BJP and government criticism
Giriraj Singh said opposition to the complete rendition showed Congress was anti-India and alleged that the party’s position reflected pressure from the Muslim League.
- Congress position
- Only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram will be recited at Congress events.
- Historical basis
- Mani Shankar Aiyar linked the practice to a 1937 CWC decision reportedly made on Rabindranath Tagore’s advice.
- CWC status
- Shakeel Ahmad Khan described the Congress Working Committee as the party’s highest and most respected institution.
- Government protocol
- The Centre has recently made the complete rendition of Vande Mataram part of official protocol.
- Giriraj Singh’s response
- The Union Minister called Aiyar a “puppet” and “parrot” of Rahul Gandhi and accused Congress of being anti-India.
- Congress criticism of BJP
- Gurdeep Singh Sappal alleged that the BJP uses Vande Mataram to divide the country, while Congress intends it to promote unity.
- Historical claim by Singh
- Giriraj Singh claimed that all six stanzas had been sung publicly from the beginning.
