Stand on Vande Mataram clear, Congress to only sing two stanza in party, says Venugopal
The Congress party has reaffirmed its policy to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, citing a 1937 committee decision. Party leaders also discussed strategies to challenge the government on issues like examination paper leaks and alleged corruption at the Ram Temple.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing ideological and political friction between the Congress party and the ruling government regarding national symbols and governance.
The Congress on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) said the party’s stand on Vande Mataram is clear and it will follow the decision taken in the 1937 Congress Working Committee meeting to sing only two stanzas.
The party also resolved to corner the government on the issues of paper leaks, the overall education system, as well as "chanda chori" at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya at the grassroots level.
The opposition party also alleged that the government was following a "surrender policy" with "Chinese incursions" taking place in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Congress Working Committee meeting was held at Indira Bhawan, with Mr. Kharge chairing it and top leaders, including former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and K.C. Venugopal, attending it.
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