Row Over 'Vande Mataram' at Congress HQ: BJP Releases Video, Congress Offers Clarification

'Vande Mataram' Controversy at Congress Headquarters Sparks Political Debate

New Delhi | August 15, 2026: A flag-hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters on the occasion of Independence Day became a focal point of discussion due to a controversy surrounding the singing of the national song, 'Vande Mataram'. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released a video alleging that an attempt was made to interrupt the singing of the national anthem in the presence of Congress leaders.

Conversely, the Congress dismissed these allegations as entirely false, stating that the singing of 'Vande Mataram' was completed and no attempt was made to stop it. Senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, were present at the ceremony. The singing of 'Vande Mataram' began after the flag hoisting was completed.

BJP Accuses Congress of Disrespecting National Anthem

A video that emerged from the event shows Sonia Gandhi in conversation with an individual and giving some signals. The BJP has used this video to target the Congress, accusing them of alleged disrespect towards the national anthem. BJP leaders strongly condemned the incident, alleging an attempt to disrupt the singing of 'Vande Mataram' at the Congress headquarters.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain described the incident as extremely unfortunate and accused the Congress of not showing due seriousness towards the national anthem. He also questioned the absence of Congress leaders from the main ceremonies held at the Red Fort on national festivals like Independence Day. Following the release of the video by the BJP, political debate on social media also intensified over the issue, leading to accusations and counter-accusations between supporters of both major parties.

Jairam Ramesh Denies Allegations, Explains Video Content

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh vehemently denied the allegations leveled by the BJP. He clarified that the singing of 'Vande Mataram' was not stopped at any point and was sung in its entirety by all those present at the program. Jairam Ramesh dismissed the BJP's claims regarding Sonia Gandhi's conversation in the video as incorrect.

He explained that Sonia Gandhi was not discussing stopping 'Vande Mataram' but was instructing to arrange a chair for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a considerable time. Kharge, however, stated that he had no problem standing and declined the chair. Therefore, Sonia Gandhi's conversation had no connection to the national anthem. The Congress also recalled the historical tradition of singing 'Vande Mataram', mentioning a Congress Working Committee meeting on October 28, 1937, where its singing was discussed.

Historical Context of 'Vande Mataram' Singing

Amidst the controversy, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also recalled the historical tradition of singing 'Vande Mataram'. He mentioned that following the advice of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the tradition of singing the initial lines of 'Vande Mataram' at Congress programs began, a tradition the party has always respected. The Congress reiterated that the full 'Vande Mataram' was sung during the recent event and no member attempted to disrupt it, labeling the BJP's accusations as baseless and an attempt to politicize a sensitive issue.

Video Fuels Political Divide

This controversy, emerging on a national festival like Independence Day, has once again deepened the chasm of political accusations between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP continues to question the Congress based on the released video, while the Congress describes it as a misinterpretation and misinformation campaign. The party maintains that the conversation seen in the video was solely related to Mallikarjun Kharge's seating arrangements, not an attempt to stop the singing of 'Vande Mataram'.

Currently, the video remains at the center of this entire dispute, with different political parties interpreting it according to their ideologies and interests. This incident has once again ignited a debate on political sensitivity towards national symbols and the interpretation of activities in public forums.