Complaint Seeks FIR Against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi Over Vande Mataram Row

A complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over an alleged attempt to disrupt the rendition of Vande Mataram during Independence Day celebrations at the Congress headquarters. The complainants have asked police to examine whether the conduct of the two leaders amounted to intentional disruption of the singing of the National Song. The Delhi Police has acknowledged receiving the complaint and said the matter is being enquired into.

The complaint was filed by advocates Kunal Vinayak and Shubh Sharma and refers to purported video footage from the event at AICC headquarters in Indira Bhawan. It alleges that Sonia Gandhi made gestures and communicated with people present in a manner that indicated an objection to the continuation of the song. The complaint also cites footage in which Rahul Gandhi is alleged to have said, “We are not singing Vande Mataram.” The complainants have sought a fair and time-bound investigation to establish the context and intent of the alleged conduct.

The controversy began after footage from the Independence Day programme circulated publicly, with Sonia Gandhi appearing to make gestures as singers proceeded towards stanzas that have been opposed by some Congress leaders. Party leaders have previously argued that certain later stanzas contain Hindu religious imagery and could be objectionable to members of other faiths. The Congress has denied that there was any attempt to stop the full rendition of Vande Mataram, while the BJP has accused the party leadership of disrespecting the National Song.

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The complaint invokes the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, claiming that the proposed legislation extends penal protection available to the National Anthem to the National Song. According to the complaint, the proposed amended Section 3 would provide for imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both for intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or National Song or disturbing an assembly engaged in such singing. The complainants have also referred to a 2018 Supreme Court judgment concerning intentional disruption of the National Anthem.

The complaint comes amid growing political confrontation over the incident. The BJP has demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi, while the Congress has rejected allegations that the singing was deliberately obstructed. Two additional complaints have reportedly been filed against Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders, including one in Odisha by the BJP's youth wing. In Bengaluru, the BJP Yuva Morcha also held a protest near the party's state headquarters over the controversy.

The legal complaint does not establish guilt, and the allegations will have to be examined by the competent authorities. Delhi Police is currently looking into the matter and will have to determine the applicability of the law and whether the available material supports the allegations. The dispute has meanwhile widened beyond the original Independence Day event, with BJP leaders demanding an apology from the Congress leadership and threatening to continue protests over what they describe as disrespect towards Vande Mataram.

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