Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Karnataka Vande Mataram Dispute Escalates Over Two-Stanza Rule
Karnataka’s lawmakers began a special three-day meeting by playing Vande Mataram.
The recording stopped after two stanzas, or sections.
BJP lawmakers wanted all six stanzas played, so they sang the rest themselves.
They also shouted slogans criticizing the Congress-led state government.
The government says its rule is to use only the first two stanzas at most state programmes.
It says the full song is reserved for events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.
Government minister Priyank Kharge defended the rule as consistent with the Congress’s historical position.
BJP leaders said the full song should be sung and accused the government of acting for political reasons.
A petition before the Karnataka High Court questions whether the state can enforce this rule when Union guidance calls for the full version.
The Vande Mataram recording at Karnataka’s Assembly and Council proceedings ended after two stanzas.
Bharatiya Janata Party legislators sang the remaining stanzas and raised slogans against the Congress government.
The government cited its policy of singing only the first two stanzas at state programmes, with exceptions for events attended by senior constitutional officials.
The three-day special session was convened to discuss severe drought and the Kasturirangan report’s implications for the Western Ghats.
The dispute has prompted political criticism and a Karnataka High Court challenge over whether state rules conflict with Union government guidance.
- Who
- Karnataka’s Congress government, BJP legislators, and members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
- What
- A dispute followed the playing of only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, after which BJP members sang the remaining stanzas and raised slogans.
- When
- Monday, at the start of a three-day special legislative session.
- Where
- The Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
- Why
- The government cited its two-stanza protocol, while BJP members demanded that the full version be played; the session itself was convened to discuss drought and the Western Ghats report.
Karnataka Government and Congress Position
BJP and Opposition Position
How much of Vande Mataram should be sung
Karnataka Government and Congress Position
The government says limiting programmes to the first two stanzas maintains uniformity, dignity and appropriate protocol, and reflects the Congress’s historical position from 1937.
BJP and Opposition Position
The BJP says all six stanzas should be sung and argues that the two-stanza restriction is unacceptable and potentially inconsistent with Parliament’s decision and Union guidance.
Political motivation
Karnataka Government and Congress Position
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the policy as a longstanding position rather than a political maneuver.
BJP and Opposition Position
BJP leaders, including B Y Vijayendra and S R Vishwanath, accused the government of political appeasement and said the decision was taken under pressure from the Congress leadership.
Legal authority
Karnataka Government and Congress Position
The state government is continuing to rely on its September 8 order governing the song at state programmes.
BJP and Opposition Position
The BJP-backed legal challenge questions whether a state government can impose a two-stanza protocol when Union government guidance prescribes the full version.
- Session duration
- Three days
- Session agenda
- Severe drought and the implications of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats
- Song version played
- The official recording ended after two stanzas
- BJP response
- Legislators sang the remaining stanzas and raised slogans against the government
- State government policy
- Only the first two stanzas are sung at state programmes, except events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor
- Legal challenge
- A PIL before the Karnataka High Court challenges the state’s September 8 order
- Other proceedings
- The Assembly paid tribute to former MLA R B Shiriyannavar, while the Council read the Constitution’s preamble
