Congress divided over decision to sing two stanzas of Vande Mataram; BJP takes aim.
New Delhi. In a significant move on Wednesday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) decided that only the first two stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ would be sung at all official party events. The committee based this decision on a resolution adopted by the Congress in 1937. The party maintains that this decision is not a new change but a reiteration of its historical stance. However, the decision has sparked a political controversy, and there is talk of differing opinions emerging within the Congress party itself.
Following the CWC’s decision, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the Congress. BJP leaders alleged that the Congress chose to curtail its long-standing association with ‘Vande Mataram’ due to political considerations. The BJP asserts that ‘Vande Mataram’ is deeply intertwined with the country’s freedom movement and that there should be no political agenda regarding the respect accorded to it.
The Congress, however, is framing the decision within a historical context. The party argues that in 1937, the then-leadership had accepted only the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ for official events, keeping in mind the sentiments of various communities and the prevailing political climate. The CWC has now decided to implement that same practice for party events; effectively, only the first two stanzas will be sung at official Congress gatherings.
The political debate between the Congress and the BJP regarding ‘Vande Mataram’ is not new. During the freedom movement, the song played a pivotal role in strengthening nationalist sentiment across the country. Later, certain portions of the song became the subject of religious and political debates. Against this backdrop, the Congress’s 1937 decision has frequently been a topic of discussion. The current decision has once again brought this old controversy to the forefront of political discourse.
Another significant aspect of this decision is that there is reportedly no complete consensus within the Congress regarding it. There is talk of disagreement among some leaders within the party over this move. However, no senior Congress leader has officially or publicly opposed the decision so far. The party leadership, too, has not publicly acknowledged any internal discord regarding this issue.
This decision is considered significant for the Congress because ‘Vande Mataram’ is not merely a song but an integral part of the history of the Indian freedom movement. The Congress has long shared a historical association with this song; consequently, the decision regarding its use at party events is viewed as important from both political and ideological perspectives.
Questioning the Congress’s decision, the BJP has attempted to link it to the party’s alleged “politics of appeasement.” BJP leaders argue that the Congress needs to clarify why—if it respects ‘Vande Mataram’—it decided to sing only the first two stanzas. By framing the issue around nationalism and respect for national symbols, the BJP is trying to exert political pressure on the Congress.
On the other hand, the Congress wishes to avoid politicizing the controversy. It is important for the party to convey that its current decision is not part of a new political experiment but a reaffirmation of a historical stance adopted in 1937. According to the Congress, the initial two stanzas of the song were deemed appropriate for official events even back then.
Amidst these developments, attention is also focused on potential internal dissent within the Congress. Given the presence of leaders with diverse ideologies and political viewpoints, opinions on such issues can vary. However, until a leader publicly expresses disagreement, it would be premature to view this as an official rift within the party.
For now, the CWC’s decision has once again turned ‘Vande Mataram’ into a subject of political debate. The BJP views this as an opportunity to question the Congress’s ideology, whereas the Congress describes it as a reaffirmation of its historical decision. The controversy could deepen in the coming days if open statements regarding this decision emerge from within the Congress ranks. For now, the decision to implement a system for singing the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official party events has become the focal point of a new political debate within the Congress.