Karnataka govt limits Vande Mataram to 2 stanzas, barring VVIP functions

BENGALURU: Congress govt in Karnataka has ordered that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at its programmes, with an exception at events attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister or governor.The order follows a decision taken by the state cabinet on the playing or singing of the national song at government programmes and functions held in the state. In Jan, the Union home ministry had directed that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung before the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, whenever the two are played together. The directive came as the Centre marked the 150th year of the song.The Congress Working Committee, however, decided on Aug 19 to stick to its 1937 resolution, under which only two stanzas are sung at party events.