Congress follows 1937 practice on Vande Mataram, says Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor says Congress follows a 1937 practice of singing two verses of Vande Mataram. The BJP condemned this, passing a resolution to protect the full song and vowing a nationwide campaign to promote its history and significance.

Congress's Position on Vande Mataram

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday maintained that the Congress has been playing one stanza of the national anthem and two verses of Vande Mataram since 1937. Speaking to reporters, Tharoor clarified the Congress party's position amid a row on Vande Mataram. "I think the position is very clear that the Congress is following the existing practice when it comes to Congress party functions. I think if there is a national or government function, we will all stand up for the whole for the entire thing. It depends on what is being played. But in our party, our position is that since 1937, we've been playing only one stanza of the national anthem and two verses of Vande Mataram. And that will remain our existing position," he told reporters.

BJP Condemns Congress, Launches Nationwide Campaign

Earlier in the day, the Bharatiya Janata Party passed a major resolution on the honour and historic legacy of Vande Mataram and said that it will lead a nationwide campaign to raise awareness around the history and significance of the national song.

The party strongly condemned the Congress Working Committee's decision taken on August 19 to re-adopt its 1937 resolution that restricts the singing of Vande Mataram to only its first two stanzas at Congress programmes.

The BJP stated that it considers Vande Mataram as India's national song, an expression of reverence for Bharat Mata, the mantra of the freedom struggle, and the immortal symbol of India's national consciousness.

Resolution to Protect Full Song

The BJP's resolution mentioned that the party will strongly oppose the Congress's decision to limit Vande Mataram to two stanzas. It aims to protect the honour, dignity, and legacy of the full six-stanza Vande Mataram, reaffirming the 1950 Constituent Assembly declaration and the law passed by Parliament giving statutory protection to the national song on par with Jana Gana Mana.

It will also oppose any attempt to make the national song subservient to communal pressure, appeasement, or vote-bank politics.

The resolution emphasised that the Congress Working Committee's resolution cannot override the Constitution and Parliament's law, and that the political compromise of 1937 cannot supersede the constitutional decision of 1950 and subsequent legislation.

Public Awareness Drive

Furthermore, the resolution noted that the party will bring before the public the historical context behind restricting Vande Mataram, including objections by the Muslim League and the politics of communal and separatist demands.

It will take Mahatma Gandhi's statement--where he described Vande Mataram as an 'anti-imperialist slogan' linked to the 'purest national sentiment'--to the masses.

BJP workers will run a nationwide campaign to take the history, meaning and national importance of Vande Mataram to every corner of the country.

A special awareness drive will be held among the youth so that the full National Song is not forgotten and future generations understand its deep link with India's freedom, struggle and sacrifice.

No compromise on Vande Mataram's honour will be accepted for political convenience, the resolution said.

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