BJP Passes 'Vande Mataram' Resolution, Criticises Congress for Singing Only Two Stanzas

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday adopted a resolution highlighting the historical importance and national significance of 'Vande Mataram', while strongly criticising the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for deciding to restrict its rendition to the first two stanzas at party events. The BJP announced that it would launch a nationwide awareness campaign to educate people, particularly young Indians, about the history, meaning and role of Vande Mataram in the country’s freedom movement.

The BJP said Vande Mataram represents reverence for Bharat Mata, the spirit of India’s independence struggle and a lasting expression of national consciousness. The party said it would oppose the Congress decision to limit the National Song and pledged to safeguard the legacy of its complete six-stanza version.

The BJP also referred to the 1950 Constituent Assembly decision concerning Vande Mataram and a 2026 parliamentary law, arguing that the Congress’s 1937 resolution cannot take precedence over later constitutional and legislative decisions. The party said it would also highlight the historical circumstances surrounding the 1937 decision, including opposition from the Muslim League and the broader political debates of that period. It plans to bring greater public attention to Mahatma Gandhi’s description of Vande Mataram as an anti-imperialist slogan associated with strong national sentiment.

As part of its campaign, BJP workers will take the history and significance of the National Song to communities across the country. The party said a particular focus would be placed on young people to ensure that future generations remain familiar with Vande Mataram’s connection to India’s freedom struggle and the sacrifices made during the independence movement.

The resolution stated that the BJP would not accept what it described as any compromise with the honour of Vande Mataram for political considerations. It portrayed the issue as one concerning India’s national heritage rather than merely a disagreement between political parties. The BJP also recalled the role of Vande Mataram during the freedom movement, saying the slogan had become a powerful symbol of resistance against British rule. It argued that attempts to suppress it reflected the colonial administration’s concern over its ability to inspire people.

The party further linked the song’s historical significance with its vision of India in 2047, saying that just as ‘Vande Mataram’ represented the call for independence in 1947, the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ in 2047 would also carry the spirit of the same national sentiment. The controversy intensified after the Congress Working Committee decided on Wednesday to follow its 1937 resolution, under which only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be sung at Congress programmes.

The decision came amid a political dispute that began after the BJP accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi of speaking to each other while Vande Mataram was being performed during Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The BJP subsequently sought an apology from the Congress leaders. Following the CWC meeting, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal defended the party’s position, saying Congress would continue to follow the approach adopted in 1937 by leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

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