Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore ’s comments on Vande Mataram, in which she said that only its first two stanzas should be sung when the national song is performed in public, have drawn a sharp response from BJP MLA and West Bengal minister Indranil Khan, who said that “we don’t need lessons” from those who insult the national song.
The true warriors of the country, who liberated the country, who drew inspiration from Anandamath, with Vande Mataram in their hearts, gave freedom to the country. They gave freedom to all of us from the British. We have to learn from them, not from those who don’t know what freedom is. We don’t have to learn lessons on freedom, independence or patriotism from those who insult the national song. The comments come amid an intensifying political dispute between the BJP and the Congress over the rendition of Vande Mataram.
Khan, while speaking to the reporters on Friday, said, “Is it from Sharmila Tagore or the Congress that we have to learn patriotism?
Union home minister Amit Shah has strongly criticised the decision. The row over Vande Mataram began after Parliament cleared a bill making the complete rendition of Vande Mataram part of official government programmes. Shah’s charge that the party had insulted the National Song, asserting that it has always respected the song and accused the BJP of attempting to manufacture a political controversy .
The Congress Working Committee has decided that only the first two stanzas will be sung at party programmes, citing its 1937 resolution. Earlier reporting noted: The war of words escalated after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) decided to abide by the 1937 resolution of its highest decision-making body on Vande Mataram , stating that only two stanzas of the National Song would be sung at all party events henceforth.
Earlier reporting noted: Vande Mataram row: What was Congress’ 1937 resolution 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. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described BJP leaders as “fraudulent nationalists”.
Earlier reporting noted: The Congress strongly rebutted Mr. Shah took a swipe at the Congress , on Friday, saying successive governments had not accorded due recognition to Vande Mataram, while asserting that the national song received its rightful place under the Narendra Modi government during this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
