Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and senior BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Health and IT Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, have strongly criticised the Congress over its decision to restrict the rendition of Vande Mataram to two stanzas.
The BJP leaders described the move as unfortunate and alleged that the Congress was once again viewing the national song through the prism of political considerations. They asserted that Vande Mataram is deeply associated with India’s freedom struggle, national pride and the sacrifices of generations of freedom fighters.
The criticism comes amid a political debate over the manner in which the national song should be rendered, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of repeating what they described as its historical approach towards Vande Mataram.
CM Majhi Calls Vande Mataram the ‘Soul of Bharat’s Freedom Struggle’
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Vande Mataram was not a political bargaining tool but an integral part of the country’s freedom movement.
In a social media post, Majhi said, “Vande Mataram is not a political bargaining chip. It is the soul of Bharat’s freedom struggle.” He described the Congress Working Committee’s decision as “deeply disappointing”.
Majhi said Vande Mataram belonged to the history and spirit of the country and was not the political property of any party to “edit, dilute or bargain with”.
He further said the song had inspired generations of freedom fighters and its significance could not be reduced to what he described as “vote-bank calculations or political convenience”.
“Vande Mataram will always remain the voice of Bharat,” the Chief Minister said.
Vande Mataram is not a political bargaining chip. It is the soul of Bharat’s freedom struggle.
The Congress Working Committee’s decision to limit the singing of Vande Mataram to only two stanzas is deeply disappointing.
Vande Mataram belongs to the history and spirit of… pic.twitter.com/mnUFMuRUot
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 20, 2026
Majhi also asserted that the nation remembered its history and had learnt from the past. He said the people of the country would not allow the Congress to repeat what he described as the same politics again.
Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo Says Song Transcends Political Interests
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo also criticised the Congress decision, describing it as “deeply unfortunate.”
Singh Deo said Vande Mataram was much more than a song and represented the enduring love of Indians for their motherland. He said the composition had played an important role in inspiring people during the freedom movement and had subsequently acquired a permanent place in the country’s national consciousness.
Vande Mataram is more than a song; it is an enduring expression of Bharat’s love for the motherland and a powerful reminder of the spirit that fuelled our freedom movement.
The Congress Working Committee’s decision to restrict its rendition to only two stanzas is deeply… pic.twitter.com/9tA2LgJyqN
— Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo (Modiji Ka Parivar) (@KVSinghDeo1) August 20, 2026
He argued that the significance of Vande Mataram should not be assessed or restricted on the basis of political considerations.
“The words and spirit of Vande Mataram belong to every Indian and transcend the interests of any party or ideology,” Singh Deo said.
He also recalled the contribution of generations of freedom fighters who drew inspiration from the song, asserting that their sacrifices had given it a lasting place in India’s history.
Dharmendra Pradhan Alleges ‘Vote-Bank Politics’
Former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan launched a sharper attack on the Congress, accusing the party of reviving what he described as its “appeasement politics.”
In a social media post, Pradhan said Vande Mataram, which played an important role in inspiring patriotism and national pride during India’s freedom struggle, was not merely a political issue but a symbol of the country’s national honour.
He alleged that the Congress had once again placed political considerations above the historical and emotional significance of the national song. According to Pradhan, the decision to move away from the full rendition of Vande Mataram represented a repetition of the party’s earlier approach towards the song.
कांग्रेस का तुष्टीकरण फिर सामने है और निशाने पर है भारत का राष्ट्रगौरव – ‘वंदे मातरम्’।
जिस ‘वंदे मातरम्’ ने स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन में देशवासियों के भीतर राष्ट्रभक्ति और स्वाभिमान की लौ जगाई, उसके पूर्ण गान से पीछे हटने का कांग्रेस कार्यसमिति का निर्णय केवल एक राजनीतिक फैसला नहीं,…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 20, 2026
Referring to the political developments of 1937, Pradhan alleged that the Congress had then decided to limit the use of Vande Mataram under pressure from its vote-bank considerations. He claimed that such politics at the time strengthened forces that weakened national unity and eventually contributed to the circumstances surrounding the Partition.
Pradhan further linked the current controversy with the 150th year of Vande Mataram, saying that the Narendra Modi-led government had sought to address what he described as a historical error by according legal protection to the complete rendition of the song.
Targeting Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Pradhan alleged that the party was once again displaying the same approach instead of learning from the past.
He said the Congress should learn from history rather than repeat what he termed past mistakes. According to Pradhan, the controversy reflected what he described as the ideological weakness of the Congress leadership.
“National unity and national honour are greater than any vote bank,” Pradhan said, asserting that the country would not compromise on the respect accorded to Vande Mataram.
He also questioned the Congress leadership over its priorities, asking whether the party considered the nation’s national pride more important than electoral considerations.
Pradhan maintained that Vande Mataram transcends political affiliations and remains closely associated with India’s freedom movement, national identity and the sacrifices of generations of freedom fighters.
Mukesh Mahaling Recalls Bankim Chandra’s Contribution
Odisha Health and IT Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling also criticised the decision, calling it “deeply unfortunate.”
Mahaling said Vande Mataram was not simply a song but a symbol of national pride and inspiration for millions of Indians. He alleged that the Congress Working Committee’s decision reflected a repetition of the party’s 1937 position on the national song.
🇮🇳 ‘ବନ୍ଦେ ମାତରମ୍’ କେବଳ ଏକ ସଙ୍ଗୀତ ନୁହେଁ, ଏହା କୋଟି କୋଟି ଭାରତୀୟଙ୍କ ଜାତୀୟ ଗର୍ବ ଓ ପ୍ରେରଣା।
କଂଗ୍ରେସ ଦଳ ନିଜର ୧୯୩୭ ମସିହାର ପୁରୁଣା ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତିକୁ ପୁନରାବୃତ୍ତି କରି ‘ବନ୍ଦେ ମାତରମ୍’ର କେବଳ ଦୁଇଟି ପଦ ଗାଇବାକୁ ତାର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରିଣୀ କମିଟି ବୈଠକରେ ନେଇଥିବା ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁର୍ଭାଗ୍ୟଜନକ।
ସ୍ୱର୍ଗତ… pic.twitter.com/MxY32Udwcs
— Dr. Mukesh Mahaling (@MahalingMukesh) August 20, 2026
The minister said the issue had acquired additional significance during the 150th year of Vande Mataram, arguing that the occasion should be used to honour the complete composition and its historical legacy.
Recalling the contribution of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who authored Vande Mataram, Mahaling said the composition had inspired generations of freedom fighters during the struggle for independence.
He alleged that restricting the rendition for political considerations would undermine the sentiments associated with the song and its place in the freedom movement.
Mahaling also targeted Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress was repeating what he described as past mistakes and engaging in “self-serving politics.”
