Abdullahs Stand During Full Vande Mataram as Congress Raises Objection

Srinagar: A political dispute over the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at an event in Srinagar has intensified, with the Congress, its alliance partner National Conference (NC), and the BJP trading sharp remarks. The controversy erupted after the complete version of the national song was performed at the Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. The Congress objected to the rendition and urged the NC to support its position of singing only the version adopted by the party.

Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal said the complete version of Vande Mataram was inconsistent with what he described as India's pluralistic and syncretic traditions. Referring to several prominent leaders of India's freedom movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Rabindranath Tagore, Venugopal said their views on the song should continue to guide the party's position.

Venugopal also appealed to alliance partners to respect the Congress' decision and support the use of the shorter version of the song at party events. His remarks, however, triggered a strong response from the National Conference, which made it clear that the Congress could not dictate how its alliance partners should approach the issue.

NC leader Bashir Ahmed said the Congress was free to express its position but could not impose its preference on another alliance partner. He argued that people should be allowed to make their own choices and reiterated that the National Conference was opposed to imposing such matters on the public. The disagreement also prompted a response from within the Congress. Congress leader Kapil Singh said Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, as members of the INDIA alliance, should respect the Congress' position rather than follow what he described as the "Nagpur" line, a reference to the RSS.

The BJP quickly entered the controversy, attacking the Congress over its objection to the full rendition of Vande Mataram. BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress of becoming increasingly aligned with what he called the politics of the Muslim League. He claimed that the Congress was isolated on the issue and launched a broader attack on the party's position. BJP leader RS Pathania also criticised the Congress, arguing that even separatist elements in Kashmir had not objected to Vande Mataram. The BJP has repeatedly accused the Congress of showing disrespect to the national song by limiting its rendition at party programmes.

The latest controversy follows a decision by the Congress Working Committee last month to follow the party's 1937 position on Vande Mataram. The Congress subsequently decided that only the first two stanzas of the song would be sung at its official events. The BJP has criticised that decision and demanded that the complete version be given greater prominence.

The Centre had earlier this year directed that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be played before the national anthem at government functions, schools and official ceremonies. The issue has therefore become part of a wider political debate over the historical, cultural and official use of the national song. The Srinagar episode has added another layer to that debate, particularly because the disagreement involves the Congress and the National Conference, which are alliance partners. While the NC has rejected any attempt by the Congress to dictate its position, the BJP has used the dispute to intensify its criticism of the opposition party.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.