Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge defended the party's practice of singing a specific version of Vande Mataram during a recent event.

The dispute highlights a recurring ideological clash between India's two largest political parties over national symbols and historical interpretation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Congress of failing to respect the song by avoiding the full version.

Kharge said the party has continued the practice of singing the version associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru for nearly 90 years [1]. He questioned whether singing this specific version constitutes a crime [1].

According to party records, Congress sings only two stanzas of Vande Mataram [2]. This practice is presented by party leadership as a historical tradition, rather than a rejection of the song's significance.

The BJP has countered these assertions, alleging that Sonia Gandhi objected to the singing of the full version of the song. Congress has denied these accusations, stating it simply follows the established Gandhi-Nehru version [1].

This debate occurs against the backdrop of Congress's long history in Indian governance, having ruled the country for 76 years [2]. The party maintains that its adherence to the shorter version is consistent with the legacy of its founders.

Kharge's comments aim to neutralize accusations that the party is unpatriotic or dismissive of national heritage. By framing the practice as a decades-old tradition, the Congress leadership seeks to shift the narrative from a lack of respect to a matter of historical consistency.

“"We have been singing Vande Mataram in the version of Gandhi and Nehru for nearly 90 years."”

The conflict over Vande Mataram is less about the lyrics themselves and more about the struggle to define Indian nationalism. By tethering their practice to Gandhi and Nehru, Congress is attempting to reclaim the narrative of the independence movement, while the BJP uses the 'full version' argument to paint its opponents as culturally disconnected or selectively patriotic.