The row over Vande Mataram intensified on Thursday (August 20, 2026) with Union Home Minister Amit Shah launching a sharp attack on the Congress, alleging that its decision to sing only two stanzas was “anti-national” and intended to appease its vote bank in defiance of the law.
A controversy erupted during Independence Day celebrations at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi, where Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was seen gesturing towards party president Mallikarjun Kharge while Vande Mataram was being sung. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge read out an order issued by former President Rajendra Prasad to reinforce the party’s position, reiterating that the first two stanzas had been adopted for rendition at its functions following consultations with Rabindranath Tagore. “Vande Mataram and the National Anthem are emotional issues for us. For the BJP, it is a political issue. Mr. Mr.
Defending the party’s decision, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the 1937 resolution recommending that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at national gatherings reflected the considered view of several leading figures of the freedom movement. In 1937, the Congress adopted a shortened version of Vande Mataram as the country’s National Song, retaining only the first two of the original six stanzas. Earlier reporting noted: Shah’s statement came a day after the Congress Working Committee ( CWC ) decided to abide by its 1937 resolution on Vande Mataram and sing only two stanzas of the national song, instead of its full rendition, at all party events. Earlier reporting noted: Shah links Congress’ 1937 stand to Partition, vote-bank politics Shah links Congress’ 1937 stand to Partition, vote-bank politics
That is the difference between us and them,” the Congress said. Ramesh cited The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (Volume 66, Page 46) to support his claim, noting that the CWC had issued a statement on Vande Mataram on October 28, 1937, which was “profoundly influenced” by Rabindranath Tagore’s advice. Tagore had recommended that the song be limited to its first two stanzas to ensure inclusivity, as the later verses contained religious imagery that could alienate sections of society, the Congress said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that the Congress removed “crucial” verses of Vande Mataram in 1937, fragmenting the song and sowing the seeds of the country’s Partition. He said that Vande Mataram remained relevant in every era of India’s history. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Anti-national’: Amit Shah on Congress decision to sing first two stanzas of Vande Mataram Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress over its decision to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events, calling it “anti-national” and accusing the party of pursuing vote-bank appeasement.
