BREAKING: Congress-BJP War Escalates Over Two-Stanza Decision, Giriraj Singh Attacks

The political battle over Vande Mataram has intensified after the Congress Working Committee reaffirmed that only the first two stanzas of the national song will be sung at official party programmes. Congress has defended the decision by citing its 1937 resolution, while the BJP has accused the opposition party of disrespecting the national song and placing its political position above national sentiment. Union Minister Giriraj Singh launched a sharp attack on Congress, alleging that the party had become like the Muslim League and accusing it of taking decisions under pressure for electoral reasons. BJP president Nitin Nabin also criticised the CWC resolution, saying Congress had turned what the BJP calls an earlier incident of disrespect into an official party position. The controversy follows a series of recent flashpoints surrounding Vande Mataram. On August 13, the full version of the song was recited in the Lok Sabha at the conclusion of the Monsoon Session. The BJP subsequently questioned the conduct of Congress leaders during the song’s rendition at the party headquarters on Independence Day, while Congress rejected the allegation and offered its own explanation. Congress has maintained that its position is rooted in the 1937 resolution, under which the first two stanzas were adopted for Congress and public functions. Historical records confirm that the 1937 Working Committee resolution specifically addressed objections to portions of the song and endorsed the first two stanzas for such occasions. The dispute has now widened beyond Congress and BJP, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also weighing in and challenging the BJP’s claims over nationalism and familiarity with the song. With both sides sharpening their rhetoric, Vande Mataram has once again become a major flashpoint in Indian politics.