New Delhi, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress leaders on Thursday defended the party’s decision to continue reciting only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at its events, saying the move follows the tradition established by the party’s leaders during the freedom movement.
The comments came a day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolved to retain the practice adopted through a 1937 CWC decision, under which the first two stanzas of the national song are recited at Congress programmes. The decision comes amid the Centre’s recent move to make the complete rendition of Vande Mataram part of official protocol.
Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said the party was right to reaffirm the earlier decision.
“I am very happy that yesterday the Congress decided in a firm manner that we will sing only the first two verses of ‘Vande Mataram’. Because in 1937, I believe, it was decided on the advice of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore that we would sing only the first two stanzas. And today, we are following the same path again,” Aiyar told IANS.
Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan said the CWC’s decision should be respected, citing the views of several prominent leaders of the freedom movement.
“The CWC is the highest and most respected institution for all of us. We have to follow the views and decisions of great leaders such as Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Rajendra Prasad,” he said.
Party leader Udit Raj said the resolution represented the Congress’s position and “we have to abide by it”.
Gurdeep Singh Sappal said the CWC had chosen to follow the path shown by leaders who fought for India’s independence, including Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Maulana Azad.
Sappal also launched a political attack on the BJP, alleging that organisations associated with its ideological predecessors had taken positions contrary to the freedom movement. He referred to the Hindu Mahasabha’s alleged alliances with the Muslim League and alleged that Syama Prasad Mookerjee had opposed the Quit India Movement.
He questioned the BJP’s claims on patriotism and said the Congress had adopted Vande Mataram as a national song as early as 1896.
Sappal further said Congress leaders and freedom fighters had raised Vande Mataram slogans while facing imprisonment under British rule.
He alleged that the BJP was now using the slogan to create divisions and asserted that the Congress would oppose such an approach, maintaining that Vande Mataram should serve to unite the country.
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