BENGALURU: A sharp confrontation over the national song Vande Mataram erupted inside the Karnataka Assembly after the government stopped its official rendition after two stanzas, prompting BJP MLAs to stand up and recite the complete version in protest.
The episode turned the Assembly into the latest battleground over the Karnataka government’s decision to restrict the song’s rendition at state government programmes and official ceremonies.
The government played the first two stanzas in accordance with its September 8, 2026 order. BJP legislators, however, continued by reciting the full version of the song as proceedings moved ahead.
BJP challenges government decision
BJP MLA S.R. Vishwanath strongly criticised the Congress-led government over the restriction and alleged that the decision was motivated by political considerations.
“Even before independence, Congress opposed Vande Mataram and stopped singing it in their meetings,” Vishwanath alleged, while accusing the state government of limiting the song to please the Congress high command.
He said the BJP would oppose any attempt to truncate the song and declared that BJP MLAs would continue singing the complete version even if attempts were made to stop them. The BJP legislators subsequently recited the full version of Vande Mataram inside the Assembly.
What does the Karnataka government order say?
The Karnataka government issued an order dated September 8, 2026, directing that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung or played at state government programmes and official ceremonies.
According to the order, the restriction does not apply in the same manner to programmes attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor, where the full prescribed rendition is applicable under the relevant guidelines.
The order was issued in the name of the Governor of Karnataka and refers to guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Assembly episode has escalated an already contentious dispute between the ruling Congress and BJP over the treatment of Vande Mataram at official events. The BJP argues that restricting the national song’s rendition undermines its significance, while the government has defended its order as being based on applicable official guidelines.
The confrontation inside the Assembly demonstrates how the issue has moved beyond an administrative order and become a larger political dispute over national symbols and their place in government functions.
The controversy is also facing a legal challenge. The Karnataka government’s September 8 order has already been challenged before the Karnataka High Court, adding a judicial dimension to the dispute.
