KALABURAGI (KARNATAKA), AUG 22 (PTI): Accusing the Narendra Modi government and BJP of pursuing “politics of polarisation”, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday defended the Congress’ decision to sing two stanzas of Vande Mataram, saying the party was following the version decided by national leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Kharge was reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s criticism of the Congress decision, which he termed “anti-national” and aimed at vote-bank appeasement.
“If you read the history, you would know,” Kharge said, noting that the leaders had decided in 1937 to reduce the song from six to two stanzas. He questioned why the issue was being raised now after nearly 90 years.
The Congress, he said, was never opposed to singing Vande Mataram and had been doing so through the party and its Seva Dal. Drawing a comparison with Jana Gana Mana, Kharge said only one of its five stanzas is commonly sung.
“If we sing as per what they said — are we Desh Drohis? So, are Rabindranath Tagore, Nehru, Patel and Bose Desh Drohis?” he asked.
Kharge accused the BJP of raising the issue for political polarisation and said the focus should instead be on education, employment, inflation, investment and improving the livelihood of the poor.
He also criticised comments branding those who do not sing the full song as “anti-national” or indulging in “Muslim appeasement”, calling such remarks “cheap”.
Taking a dig at Shah, Kharge asked why the Home Minister had not pushed for singing the entire song earlier.
Kharge also criticised the Centre for denying political clearance to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed US visit, saying such trips help attract investments and create jobs. He termed the denial “injustice” and alleged that the Centre wanted investments to come through it rather than directly to states.
Sunday, August 23, 2026