The Independence Day celebration at the AICC headquarters became a point of contention when the BJP accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi of trying to stop the complete singing of Vande Mataram. While footage showed interactions during the song, the Congress party, through Jairam Ramesh, clarified that the full version was sung and Sonia Gandhi was merely requesting a chair for Kharge, who had been standing. This incident occurred amidst separate criticism from the BJP towards Rahul Gandhi for his absence at the official Red Fort Independence Day event, which the BJP characterized as reflective of an anti-national mindset.

The Independence Day celebration at the AICC headquarters became a point of contention when the BJP accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi of trying to stop the complete singing of Vande Mataram. While footage showed interactions during the song, the Congress party, through Jairam Ramesh, clarified that the full version was sung and Sonia Gandhi was merely requesting a chair for Kharge, who had been standing. This incident occurred amidst separate criticism from the BJP towards Rahul Gandhi for his absence at the official Red Fort Independence Day event, which the BJP characterized as reflective of an anti-national mindset.

The Independence Day celebration at the AICC headquarters became a point of contention when the BJP accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi of trying to stop the complete singing of Vande Mataram. While footage showed interactions during the song, the Congress party, through Jairam Ramesh, clarified that the full version was sung and Sonia Gandhi was merely requesting a chair for Kharge, who had been standing. This incident occurred amidst separate criticism from the BJP towards Rahul Gandhi for his absence at the official Red Fort Independence Day event, which the BJP characterized as reflective of an anti-national mindset.

The Independence Day celebration at the AICC headquarters in Delhi triggered controversy after the BJP alleged that Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi tried to stop the complete rendition of Vande Mataram during the flag hoisting ceremony.  

'Vande Mataram' was sung in full during the celebrations at ‘Indira Bhavan’ on Saturday.

Footage of the incident is doing the rounds on social media, showing Kharge unfurling the tricolour as singers continued singing the national song beyond the first two paragraphs.  

The Congress party’s official stance was that they would only sing two paragraphs of the song, after raising objections over the last four stanzas. The Centre had made singing the full song mandatory in official functions.

The video shows Sonia gesturing to Kharge and the Congress President, in turn, communicating something to the singers.  

The incident was highlighted by the BJP, which said Sonia Gandhi had asked him to stop Vande Mataram. BJP spokesperson R P Singh questioned why Sonia hated Vande Mataram so much.

However, the party later clarified that Sonia was only asking for a chair for Kharge, who was standing during the flag hoisting ceremony. Jairam Ramesh, MP, told reporters: “The full version of Vande Mataram was sung here at Indira Bhawan today, and there is no controversy in it. There was no attempt to stop it. Since the Congress President was standing for a long time, Sonia ji was asking for a chair to be brought for him," he added.

Earlier, the BJP slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for skipping the official Independence Day event at the Red Fort, saying his mindset reflects that of the "Dimagi Naxal" ecosystem.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said in a post on X, "Rahul Gandhi misses being present at Red Fort. Can any patriotic LOP (Leader of Opposition), or an individual holding public office, commit such a voluntary act?" He alleged that Gandhi's decision to skip the event reflected his hatred for Vande Mataram. "Rahul Gandhi is unfit to be LoP. Rahul Gandhi's mindset reflects that of a 'Dimagi Naxal' ecosystem!" Bhandari charged.

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