The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor over his remarks describing the singing of “Vande Mataram” in its entirety at public events as an “unnecessary imposition,” escalating a fresh political controversy around the national song.

The row began after Tharoor stated that requiring the rendition of all five stanzas of “Vande Mataram” at every public event was not backed by any law passed by Parliament, calling it more of a convention than a legal mandate. He also supported the Kerala government’s decision not to mandate the full version of the song at official gatherings, arguing that it could become burdensome for participants when repeated at the start and end of events.

Tharoor further described the ongoing debate as unfortunate, clarifying that there was no objection to singing “Vande Mataram” itself, but questioning the practicality of enforcing the complete version in formal settings. His remarks quickly triggered criticism from BJP leaders, who accused him and the Congress party of undermining national sentiments.

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Responding strongly, BJP leaders alleged that Tharoor’s comments reflected a broader ideological position within the Congress. Party spokespersons accused the opposition of engaging in vote-bank politics and claimed that such statements weakened respect for national symbols. Some BJP leaders also linked the controversy to what they described as Congress’s inconsistent stance on cultural and historical traditions.

Another BJP spokesperson argued that historical decisions taken by the Congress regarding the composition and use of “Vande Mataram” demonstrated an attempt to dilute its original form, while asserting that the current government had worked to restore India’s cultural heritage. The party maintained that raising objections to the national song was inappropriate and urged opposition leaders to avoid politicising the issue.

The exchange has further intensified political tensions between the BJP and Congress, with both sides trading charges over nationalism, cultural identity, and constitutional interpretation, turning the debate over “Vande Mataram” into yet another flashpoint in the ongoing political discourse.

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