BENGALURU: Congress govt in Karnataka has ordered that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at its programmes, with an exception at events attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister or governor.The order follows a decision taken by the state cabinet on the playing or singing of the national song at government programmes and functions held in the state. In Jan, the Union home ministry had directed that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung before the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, whenever the two are played together. The directive came as the Centre marked the 150th year of the song.The Congress Working Committee, however, decided on Aug 19 to stick to its 1937 resolution, under which only two stanzas are sung at party events. That decision followed accusations by the BJP that Congress leaders had insulted Vande Mataram by not singing its full version.The preamble to the state order noted that Vande Mataram played a significant role in fostering nationalism, unity and patriotism during the Indian National Movement. It said the home ministry had issued guidelines on the official version of the national song and the protocol for its singing or playing at government and public functions, specifying occasions for its mass singing.The state govt said the order was meant to ensure uniformity, dignity and appropriate protocol depending on the occasion.The move comes amid a political row over the singing of the national song.. The BJP had accused the Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram after an Independence Day event at the party’s Delhi headquarters, with Union home minister Amit Shah alleging that Sonia Gandhi had asked for the song to be stopped midway and demanding an apology.Congress rejected the charge, saying Gandhi had gestured for a chair to be arranged for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who was unwell, and had not asked for the song to be halted.KPCC president BK Hariprasad struck a defiant note, saying the party would not budge from its position. “We sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram. We do not sing the entire song. Will they put us in jail? Let them do it. We are ready,” Hariprasad said.
