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The full version of the national song Vande Mataram being played at the Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival has resulted in a war of words between the INDIA bloc allies, the National Conference and the Congress, with the grand old party objecting to the development, citing coalition compulsions, only to be met with a stern response from its alliance partner stating that it could not dictate terms to allies.

The full version of Vande Mataram, which the Congress claims does not align with the country’s “pluralist ethos,” was played at the film festival on Monday (September 7) in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

This did not sit well with the Congress, which in its working committee meeting last month decided to stick to its 1937 resolution to sing only the first stanzas of the song at all party events.

Honour freedom fighter’s wisdom: Congress to NC

Sharing the video of the full rendition of the National Song at the event, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal, in a post on X, urged the National Conference to “honour the wisdom and judgment of our freedom fighters” and support his party by singing only the first two stanzas of the song.

“The full version of Vande Mataram sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India. For us, the considered judgment of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Acharya Narendra Dev, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu and J.B. Kriplani — shaped in no small part by the counsel of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore — remains paramount,” stated Venugopal.

Also Read: Vande Mataram echoes at Red Fort for first time during 80th Independence Day celebrations

“With respect and humility, we would like our allies to honour the wisdom and judgment of our freedom fighters, and stand with us in singing only the version of this beautiful and historic song that they adopted. That version was chosen deliberately, to keep the song from being communalised — a threat as real today as it was then. Upholding it is how we uphold the secular, inclusive character of our Republic,” he added.

National Conference rejects Congress demand

However, the National Conference shot back, reminding the Congress that it does not have the right to dictate terms to its alliance partner.

Also Read: Vande Mataram row: BJP resolution condemns Congress’ decision

“As an alliance partner, you can’t dictate terms, whether to sing or how much to sing. Venugopal has the right to tweet, but can’t impose. It is people’s choice. We are against imposing anything on people,” NC leader Bashir Ahmed said, as quoted by NDTV.

Congress invokes alliance ties

However, the squabble did not end there, with the Congress refusing to back down from its argument and party leader Kapil Singh urging the National Conference to support its alliance partner and not Nagpur, in an apparent reference to the RSS.

Also Read: Silence stays legal, obstruction doesn’t: What New Vande Mataram Bill actually means

“Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah are part of the INDIA alliance. Being an alliance partner, they should respect Congress decision and not Nagpur (RSS) decision,” said Singh.

The BJP latched onto the issue, with party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi describing the Congress as “completely isolated” on the matter and adding, “this makes it clear that the ‘dimmagi Naxal’ Congress has now transformed into a ‘Muslim League Congress and has completely surrendered to fundamentalist forces.”