Kerala Chief Secretary Directs Full Vande Mataram Rendition, Sparking Political Row
A circular by Kerala Chief Secretary Bhishwanath Sinha on August 6 directing the full rendition of Vande Mataram during Independence Day events has sparked controversy. The directive, seen as a departure from Kerala's tradition, faced criticism from opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and allies like CPI(M) and IUML. Congress-led government ministers Rajmohan Unnithan and K Muraleedharan insisted only the first two stanzas would be sung. BJP leaders in Delhi criticized this stance, invoking Vande Mataram's historical significance. The controversy highlights political divisions ahead of Independence Day.
18 AUG 2026
— NDTV
Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Amit Shah's claims of Congress's lack of patriotism, reminding him of Shah's childhood when Kharge first became an MLA.
— The Hindu
The BJP accused the Congress of disrespecting the national anthem, Vande Mataram, at its Delhi headquarters on Independence Day.
19 AUG 2026
— NDTV
The Congress revised its performance of Vande Mataram, singing only the first two stanzas, prompting the BJP to criticize the decision as an insult to the national song.
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