A controversy erupted over Vande Mataram in the Karnataka legislature on Monday after the official recording was stopped after two stanzas during the opening of the three-day special session.
BJP MLAs protested and sang the remaining four stanzas themselves. BJP members in the Legislative Council also sang the complete song and raised slogans against the state government.
The Karnataka government has convened the special session to discuss the drought situation and the implications of the Kasturirangan report concerning the Western Ghats.
After recording two paragraphs, Assembly Speaker GS Patil had started the process of paying tributes to the deceased. However, the BJP legislators continued to sing the song
Karnataka government follows two-stanza directive
The Karnataka Congress government has directed that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at government programmes. The recording played in the Assembly and Legislative Council was therefore stopped after two stanzas.
The directive does not apply to programmes attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.
‘Two paragraphs of Vande Mataram will be sung’, says Cong
Earlier this year, on 9 July, the Union Home Ministry had directed that all 6 verses of “Vande Mataram” be sung alongside the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” at all government events.
Following this, the Congress Working Committee decided on 19 August to follow its own 1937 resolution on Vande Mataram, under which only the first two paragraphs of the national song are sung at party events.
Meeting of Congress Working Committee was held at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi. Event attended by 88 leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
2026 law provides punishment for public insult
Vande Mataram was declared the national song by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950.
The government subsequently enacted the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act during the 2026 Monsoon Session. Under the law, deliberately stopping or obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram, or publicly insulting it, is a punishable offence carrying up to three years in prison, a fine, or both.
Congress cites its 1937 resolution
The issue comes amid differing directives and positions over the singing of Vande Mataram.
On July 9, the Union Home Ministry directed that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung along with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, at government programmes.
The Congress Working Committee later decided on August 19 to follow the party’s 1937 resolution on Vande Mataram. Under that resolution, two stanzas are sung at Congress programmes.
All six stanzas sung at Red Fort on Independence Day
On August 15 this year, all six stanzas of Vande Mataram were sung from the Red Fort during the Independence Day celebrations.
The Karnataka legislature’s dispute over the song took place as the special session began on Monday.
