Vande Mataram Row: Congress, NC Clash After Abdullahs Stand for Full Version

The Opposition INDIA bloc witnessed a fresh disagreement over the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ after the Congress objected to the singing of the national song in its full version at an event in Srinagar on Tuesday.

The controversy erupted after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah stood during all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at the inaugural ceremony of the International Film Festival.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal shared a video of the event and said the full version of the song was at odds with India’s “syncretic and pluralist ethos”.

“The full version of Vande Mataram sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India,” Venugopal said.

He urged INDIA bloc allies to respect the decision of the country’s freedom fighters to adopt only the first two stanzas of the song.

Venugopal cited the views of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Acharya Narendra Dev, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu and J B Kripalani, noting that their decision was influenced in part by Rabindranath Tagore.

National Conference Defends J&K Government

Responding to the Congress criticism, National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the Jammu and Kashmir government was simply fulfilling its official obligation.

Sadiq claimed that following legislative action by Parliament, singing ‘Vande Mataram’ and standing during its rendition had become a statutory obligation, irrespective of the ideological position of any political party or alliance.

He pointed out that Congress-ruled states had also sung the complete six-stanza version of the song at official events, arguing that the J&K government was similarly required to follow the obligation.

“The National Conference does not oppose those who want to sing the anthem. As a party, we were opposed to forcing people to sing it,” Sadiq said.

He also clarified that the National Conference had not been a signatory to the adoption of either the two-stanza or six-stanza version of ‘Vande Mataram’.

What Is the Vande Mataram Row?

The participation of the Abdullahs in the full rendition has exposed differences within the INDIA bloc over the national song.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tarriq Karra said national symbols, songs and traditions hold a special place in the hearts of Indians and should serve to unite the country’s diverse population.

He expressed concern that an alliance partner had chosen to participate in the full rendition of the song.

The issue has been a source of political debate for some time. The Congress has maintained that it will sing only the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official party programmes, citing a 1937 resolution of the Congress Working Committee.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has criticised the Congress over its position, accusing the party of pursuing appeasement politics.