The BJP accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of feeling ‘uneasy’ while singing 'Vande Matram' at the party's Independence Day event on Saturday. Congress has responded by denying the accusation.
The BJP shared video incident of the footage on X, saying that Sonia signaled for the song to be stopped and that Rahul Gandhi appeared troubled too.
The video is from the Congress's Independence Day event and Sonia Gandhi can be seen talking to Mallikarjun Kharge while Vande Matram is playing, followed by both Conress leaders allegedly gesturing to stop the song.
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{{/usCountry}}Deep Dive
Why did the BJP accuse Sonia Gandhi of being uneasy during Vande Mataram at the Independence Day event?
What was Congress's response to the allegations made by the BJP regarding Sonia Gandhi's actions during the event?
How has 'Vande Mataram' been officially recognized in Indian law following the recent controversy?
Gopal Krishna Agarwal, a BJP spokesperson, also shared a video of the event on X and said that the scene that emerged on Independence Day was “utterly shameful”.
Agarwal said that expressing objection to the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ while it was being played, and questioning Congress workers about why it was being played, “exposes the Congress party’s mindset” adding that ‘Vande Mataram’ is not just a song; it is a historical symbol of India's freedom struggle, national consciousness, and patriotism.
"Such an attitude toward it brings to mind that old ‘Emergency mentality’—a mindset that has consistently shown a lack of respect for India's civilization, culture, history, and national symbols.", He said
Agarwal questioned, “Is this the same Congress that claims the legacy of the country’s freedom struggle?
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The Congress denied that there was any attempt to stop the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram, asserting that Gandhi was only asking for a chair for Kharge.
When asked about the controversy, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI that the Congress Working Committee, at a meeting in Calcutta on October 28, 1937, decided on Rabindranath Tagore’s advice that the initial stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ would be sung at Congress sessions. The meeting was attended by Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru and other senior leaders.
"We have been singing those lines in every session since then, our Seva Dal sings it, our workers sing it, there is no controversy over that," He added.
Ramesh said the issue was discussed in Parliament for 16 hours, during which his side put forward its views. He said he narrated the entire history surrounding the issue and explained to MPs the context in which the decision on 'Vande Mataram' was taken, adding that the Prime Minister and Home Minister were unaware of the history.
He asserted that the full version of the national song was sung on Saturday.
Asked about allegations by BJP leaders, Ramesh denied that there had been any attempt to stop the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ from being sung. "As the Congress president was standing for a long time, Soniaji was asking for a chair for him," he said.
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The remarks come after Parliament passed legislation making insults to the national song a punishable offence. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha on July 30, a day after receiving approval from the Rajya Sabha.
The legislation accords ‘Vande Mataram’ a status on par with the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.
(With inputs from PTI)