On Thursday, the Karnataka government issued an order that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at government programmes.
The order will apply to government programmes and ceremonies held in the state. Events attended by the President, Vice President, Prime Minister or Governor have been excluded from its scope.
In January this year, the Union Home Ministry had directed that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung when it is performed along with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
Following this, on August 19, the Congress Working Committee decided to adhere to its 1937 resolution regarding Vande Mataram. Under this resolution, only two stanzas of the national song are sung at party programmes.
Congress had decided that two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be sung
The Congress Working Committee meeting was held at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and 88 other leaders attended the meeting.
The Congress Working Committee had announced that the party would sing only the first two of the six stanzas of Vande Mataram at all its events. The decision came after a controversy over the singing of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on August 15.
The Congress made this decision after the BJP alleged that Congress leaders were insulting Vande Mataram by not singing its full version at party events.
2026: Law enacted against disrespecting Vande Mataram
On January 24, 1950, the Constituent Assembly declared “Vande Mataram” the national song. For a long time, there was no separate law dealing with its desecration, but during the 2026 Monsoon Session, the central government enacted the “Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.”
Under this law, intentionally stopping, obstructing, or publicly insulting the singing of “Vande Mataram” has been made a punishable offense. The offense carries a sentence of up to three years in prison, a fine, or both.
This year, for the first time, all six stanzas of “Vande Mataram” were sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the Independence Day on August 15.
News is being updated…
