A political dispute arose on Saturday following a video from the Congress Independence Day event at its New Delhi headquarters. The footage appeared to show party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi making gestures that suggested they wanted workers to halt the national song Vande Mataram. Rahul Gandhi was later seen making a similar motion, prompting online criticism and claims that the leadership opposed the song. The clip showed the three leaders with other party figures at the function. As Vande Mataram played, Sonia Gandhi and Kharge gestured toward those nearby in a manner interpreted as a request to stop. Rahul Gandhi then repeated the action. The video spread widely, with detractors accusing the Congress of disrespecting the national song. The party sought to dismiss the matter. Senior leader Ashok Gehlot told reporters there was no controversy and that the high command or Jairam Ramesh would address the party’s stance. The incident followed reports that Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had skipped the main Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort, citing protocol issues. The episode occurred amid ongoing debate over whether the full version of Vande Mataram should be performed at official events. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously criticised the Congress for historically using only the first two stanzas. Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, served as a freedom movement slogan. Its opening stanzas became the national song, while later verses have sparked discussion over religious references. In Kerala, the Congress-led administration issued school guidelines for Independence Day that emphasised flag hoisting and the national anthem but did not require Vande Mataram. The Centre’s related directives drew BJP objections. The song featured in this year’s Red Fort ceremony and in Parliament at the end of the monsoon session. The Congress event has supplied further material for critics, and the party has not yet issued a full response to the gestures in the video.
