Congress Reaffirms Commitment to First Two Stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ Amid Controversy

The Indian National Congress has officially declared that it will sing only the first two stanzas of the national song, ‘Vande Mataram,’ during its events. This decision, articulated by party leader KC Venugopal on Wednesday, is rooted in a longstanding resolution from the Congress Working Committee dating back to 1937. The resolution stipulates that the first two stanzas alone should be recognized, excluding the latter four due to references to Hindu deities such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.

Venugopal emphasized that the Congress has a clear stance on the matter, stating, “There is no confusion regarding our position.” The party is committed to honoring the historical decisions made by prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Sardar Patel, who endorsed limiting the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ to its first two stanzas.

This announcement comes in the wake of a dispute ignited by allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of intentionally disrupting the singing of the complete version of ‘Vande Mataram’ during an Independence Day event in Delhi. Footage from the occasion showed Sonia Gandhi gesturing towards a party worker while the song was being played, leading to speculation about the nature of her comments.

In response to the incident, the Delhi Police revealed that they are investigating a complaint alleging that the Congress leaders deliberately obstructed the performance of the national song. This controversy occurs shortly after the enactment of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Act, which penalizes disrespect towards national symbols.

The Congress’ historical context regarding ‘Vande Mataram’ reflects its commitment to secularism and inclusivity, aligning with the party’s broader vision of unity among India’s diverse cultural and religious communities. As debates around national identity and cultural representation continue to evolve in Indian politics, the Congress party’s decision highlights the ongoing relevance of historical resolutions in shaping contemporary political discourse.

Source: scroll.in