Overview
On 16 August 2026, the BJP accused the Congress of disrespecting the national song Vande Mataram during the party’s Independence Day event on 14 August 2026. The BJP demanded a public apology within 24 hours, linking the alleged act to a broader “anti‑patriotic” stance of the opposition.
Key Developments
- BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed Sonia and Rahul Gandhi tried to stop the singing of Vande Mataram and later expressed anger when it continued.
- The BJP linked the incident to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning about "dimagi Naxal" elements in the system.
- Congress denied the allegation, stating no attempt was made to stop the full version of the song and that Sonia Gandhi was merely asking for a chair for senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge.
- The BJP also cited a similar alleged omission of Vande Mataram at an official event in Kerala, arguing the pattern is not isolated.
- Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram responded to Modi’s "dimagi Naxal" remark by proudly calling himself a "dimagi Naxal", further polarising the debate.