BJP Criticizes Congress Over Vande Mataram Disrespect
The BJP accused the Congress on Sunday (August 16, 2026) of having a policy to oppose anything patriotic. They questioned whether anyone who believes in India’s sovereignty would remain calm if the national song Vande Mataram was invoked on Independence Day.
The ruling party demanded that the Congress issue a public apology within 24 hours for what they called an “insult” to the national song, stating that even an iota of patriotism should lead one to anger over such an invocation.
This demand came after the BJP alleged that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge showed “utter disrespect” towards Vande Mataram when it was sung at their Independence Day event on Friday (August 14).
The Congress denied these claims, stating there was no attempt to stop the full version of the national song. Sonia Gandhi was only asking for a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a long time.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that Sonia Gandhi gestured to stop the singing of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters and later expressed her anger when it continued. He also said Rahul Gandhi commented, “We don’t need to sing Vande Mataram” after its rendition was completed.
Bhandari alleged that the Congress’s opposition to Vande Mataram is part of a broader policy of rejecting anything patriotic. He questioned whether Rahul Gandhi is fit to be the Leader of Opposition, stating that any leader who respects the national Parliament would never insult the national song.
The BJP spokesperson also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, where he warned against “dimagi Naxals” within the system. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were accused of aligning with such anti-patriotic elements.
Bhandari added that skipping Vande Mataram at an official event in Kerala under Congress rule shows this behavior is not isolated but part of their overall conduct. He also criticized senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram for proudly identifying as a “dimagi Naxal.”
The BJP highlighted the stark contrast between the patriotic spirit of India’s youth and the alleged disrespect shown by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, emphasizing that 140 crore Indians are united under Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.