Karnataka Govt Mandates Singing Of Only Two Stanzas Of 'Vande Mataram' At State Events

The Congress government in Karnataka has issued an order directing that the national song, 'Vande Mataram', be played or sung at all state government programmes and official functions.

The order states that only the first two stanzas of the song shall be sung at state government programmes, except those attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, or Governor. The order further noted that 'Vande Mataram' played a significant role in fostering nationalism, unity, and patriotism during India's freedom movement.

Bengaluru | The Karnataka Government has ordered that the National Song 'Vande Mataram' must be played or sung at all state government programmes and ceremonies.

According to Government Order No. Dated September 8, 2026, the decision has been taken based on the guidelines issued…

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2026

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"The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has issued guidelines on the official version of the national song 'Vande Mataram' and its singing or playing at various government and public functions, to be followed as appropriate for the occasion," the order said.

"The State Government has considered it necessary to maintain uniformity, respect, and proper protocol for the playing/singing of the national song 'Vande Mataram' in accordance with the nature and context of various government programs and ceremonies held in the state," it added.

Vande Mataram Row

The decision aligns with the Congress party's stance opposing the Union Home Ministry's directive that the national song be sung in full at official events. Last month, the Congress Working Committee decided to follow its 1937 resolution, which mandates singing only the first two stanzas at party events. This came after the Centre made it mandatory in February to sing the full version at public gatherings and official events, along with passing a Bill in Parliament criminalising any disruption or prevention of its singing.

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The Congress maintains that its position is in line with the top leadership's decision in 1937 made in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Patel.

This issue sparked debate in August when Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge drew criticism from the BJP for singing the two-stanza version at an event in Goa. Responding to accusations of appeasement, Kharge said that he sang the version sung by Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, adding that if singing this version was a crime, police cases should be filed against those leaders as well.

(With Inputs From PTI)