Vande Mataram row has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, with the ruling party demanding an apology from Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The BJP accused the Congress leadership of showing “utter disrespect” to the national song during the party’s Independence Day programme on August 15.
BJP targets Sonia, Rahul and Kharge
The Vande Mataram row erupted after videos from the Congress Independence Day event at its headquarters in New Delhi showed senior leaders interacting while the song was being performed. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge failed to show appropriate respect during the rendition.
Trivedi said the conduct of the Congress leadership was unacceptable and called for an apology. The BJP has sought to turn the incident into a larger political issue, arguing that national symbols should be treated with dignity irrespective of party affiliation.
BJP leader BL Santhosh also shared footage of the event and claimed that the Congress leaders appeared upset during the performance. The allegations have since triggered a wider political exchange between the two parties.
Congress rejects BJP’s allegations
The Congress has rejected the BJP’s interpretation of the incident. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said there was no attempt by Sonia Gandhi to stop the song from being sung.
According to the Congress explanation, Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair for Kharge rather than objecting to the rendition of the song. The party has also pointed to its historical position on the different versions of Vande Mataram, arguing that the controversy is being politically exaggerated.
Jairam Ramesh further said the Congress had followed the position adopted in 1937 regarding renditions of the song. His response came as BJP leaders continued to accuse the party’s senior leadership of disrespecting a symbol associated with India’s freedom struggle.
Vande Mataram row gains political momentum
The controversy has gained momentum because it comes amid a renewed national debate over the status and history of Vande Mataram. The song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has long occupied an important place in India’s freedom movement and is officially recognised as the country’s National Song.
The dispute also follows recent political arguments over how the song should be performed. BJP leaders have repeatedly accused Congress leaders of failing to show sufficient respect towards national symbols, while Congress leaders have criticised what they describe as attempts to use patriotic issues for political mobilisation.
The timing has given the Vande Mataram row additional significance, with both parties preparing to defend their respective positions before the public.
Legal status adds another dimension
The controversy comes days after President Droupadi Murmu approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislation gives Vande Mataram legal protection on par with the national anthem, making intentional insult or disruption during its singing punishable under the amended law.
This development has added sensitivity to political arguments surrounding the national song. However, the allegations concerning the Congress event remain a matter of political interpretation, with the BJP and Congress offering sharply different accounts of what happened.
Mohan Yadav joins BJP’s demand
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has also demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over what he described as disrespect towards Vande Mataram. Yadav said the song had been associated with freedom fighters who raised it during India’s struggle for independence and argued that any insult to it was condemnable.
His intervention indicates that the issue is extending beyond the BJP’s central leadership and becoming part of the wider political narrative surrounding the Congress.
The latest Vande Mataram row therefore reflects a familiar pattern in Indian politics, where national symbols become the centre of intense debate between the ruling party and opposition. The BJP is pressing the Congress leadership for an apology, while the Congress maintains that the incident has been misrepresented. With both sides standing by their versions, the dispute is likely to remain a prominent political talking point in the days ahead.