BJP accuses Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram in Goa
The BJP has accused the Congress party of disrespecting the national song 'Vande Mataram' during a Goa event. Congress leadership defended their actions, citing historical precedents and constitutional adherence.
Why it matters
This incident reflects the ongoing ideological battle in Indian politics regarding national symbols, cultural identity, and the interpretation of historical traditions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) accused the Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram in Goa, after allegedly insulting the National Song at its Delhi headquarters on Independence Day.
Responding to the BJP’s charge, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he sang the same version that was followed by national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, at a press conference, said the Congress had “compromised national symbols and the core values of its own freedom movement”. He said India’s first President Rajendra Prasad had accepted Vande Mataram as the National Song on January 24, 1950, while Jana Gana Mana was declared the National Anthem.
He questioned the Congress president over only two stanzas of the National Song being sung during a Goa programme on Monday.
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