Rift widens as Congress rebukes NC over full Vande Mataram rendition

Allies National Conference (NC) and the Congress came head-to-head on Wednesday over the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir Government’s decision to play the full version of Vande Mataram on two occasions in as many days — first at the opening of the Union Territory’s first film festival, the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), on Monday, and again on Wednesday at the swearing-in ceremony of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Chief Justice.

The unabridged version of the national song was played at the IFFJK in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah. The song was played in full despite Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal reminding the NC that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had resolved that only the first two stanzas should be played, and that, as an ally, the NC should support that position.

“The full version of Vande Mataram sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India. For us, the considered judgment of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Acharya Narendra Dev, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu and JB Kripalani — shaped in no small part by the counsel of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore — remains paramount,” Venugopal said, posting on social media visuals of NC leaders standing as the full rendition of Vande Mataram played in the background.

He added: “With respect and humility, we would like our allies to honour the wisdom and judgment of our freedom fighters and stand with us in singing only the version of this beautiful and historic song that they adopted. That version was chosen deliberately to keep the song from being communalised.” While the Congress argued that upholding the stand taken by the leading lights of the freedom movement was how the country upheld its secular, inclusive character, NC leaders said the party could not impose its position on its allies.

Backing the senior party leader, J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra reposted Venugopal’s statement on X and said: “National symbols, songs and traditions occupy a special place in the heart of every Indian. Their true strength lies in their ability to bind together a nation as diverse as ours. It is therefore a matter of concern that our alliance partners chose to sing the full version of (the national song).” Reacting to the remarks, NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq shared videos of Independence Day events in Congress-ruled states where the full version of Vande Mataram was played.

He wrote on X: “Jenab Tariq Karra, please take a look at your Congress CMs and share your valuable thoughts with everyone. Thank you!”

Speaking to mediapersons, Sadiq said the NC had a clear position. “We neither adopted (the) two-stanza (version) nor (the) six-stanza (version) of Vande Mataram. When Parliament has adopted it, then it becomes a statutory obligation for the government,” he said.

Responding later on Wednesday, Karra said: “If ‘secular’ advice from our general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal was offered respectfully and in good faith, why are you offended? Take it in the spirit in which it was offered and move on.”

He added: “As you must be aware, the Bill mandating all six stanzas of Vande Mataram was passed without any meaningful debate in Parliament. The wider debate — even in the media — began only later, especially after our Congress Working Committee meeting on August 19.”

He said the clips cited by Sadiq predated the CWC meeting and, as such, were from before any serious public conversation took place on Vande Mataram and did not establish any contradiction.

“Curiously, you also left out Kerala’s Independence Day clip, where the Congress government played only the first two stanzas. You are a young, well-read MLA. I look forward to a more analytical and honest discourse from you,” Karra said.

‘Anarchist, anti-India’: Nabin hits out at Cong

BJP president Nitin Nabin, meanwhile, described the Congress as “anarchist and anti-India” for opposing the national song. “By doing so, the Congress is insulting the memory of our martyrs,” he said.