Kangana Ranaut slams Congress over Vande Mataram row, calls party 'anti-country'
Synopsis
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has accused the Congress of being 'against the country' after Sonia Gandhi allegedly tried to stop the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the party's Independence Day event. The episode has reignited one of Indian politics' most charged cultural flashpoints — and the BJP is making sure it burns bright.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on 18 August accused the Congress of being 'anti-country', citing the alleged Vande Mataram incident.
Sonia Gandhi allegedly signalled performers to stop the full rendition of Vande Mataram at Indira Bhavan on 15 August .
The Congress's stated position was that only the first two stanzas of the national song would be sung.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had unfurled the Tricolour at the event before the incident reportedly occurred.
Ranaut also flagged the spread of 'Naxal ideology' and 'reel culture' as challenges the BJP aims to counter with renewed youth and women's participation.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and actress Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday, 18 August launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress, alleging the party is not merely opposed to the BJP but is working against the nation itself. Her remarks were directed at Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, following an alleged incident at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, during Independence Day celebrations.
What Happened at Indira Bhavan
During the party's Independence Day event on Saturday, 15 August, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge unfurled the Tricolour at the party headquarters. Singers then began rendering Vande Mataram, the national song. According to reports, the party's stated position was that only the first two stanzas would be sung. However, the rendition reportedly continued through the full version.
Sonia Gandhi was allegedly the first to notice that the singers had moved beyond the party's agreed limit. She reportedly gestured towards Kharge and later appeared to communicate with the performers, signalling them to stop. The Congress has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the sequence of events.
Kangana Ranaut's Remarks
'Vande Mataram represents the consciousness of India. As an artist, I understand the impact that art and poetry can have on people. The level of opposition and hatred shown towards it, and the efforts made to stop its rendition, are deeply concerning,' Ranaut said.
'I will say that Congress is not only becoming anti-BJP, but also against the country,' she claimed. Ranaut made these remarks while speaking to reporters in Mumbai, where she also visited the Siddhivinayak temple and received a Ganpati idol from local BJP workers.
BJP's Broader Narrative
Ranaut used the occasion to articulate what she described as the BJP's strengthened resolve in countering ideological challenges. 'The BJP has strengthened its team to address the challenges we face today, including the spread of Naxal ideology and the narratives being promoted,' she said.
She specifically flagged the influence of social media and what she termed 'reel culture' on younger generations, arguing that these platforms now carry greater sway than traditional sources of guidance such as newspapers, textbooks, and parents. 'To address these challenges, women and youth have been included in the team,' she added.
Vision for India 2047
Ranaut also linked the BJP's organisational efforts to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long-term vision for India. 'With renewed energy, the team will work towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for India by 2047,' she said. The reference to 2047 aligns with the ruling party's 'Viksit Bharat' framework, which sets centenary independence as a developmental milestone.
The Vande Mataram episode has reignited a long-running political debate over the Congress's stance on the national song. With the BJP amplifying the controversy ahead of state electoral cycles, the row is unlikely to fade quickly.
Point of View
Caught in a semi-public setting, provides a concrete image that is far harder to rebut than an abstract charge. The Congress's silence — no official denial, no counter-narrative — has allowed the BJP to define the episode entirely on its own terms. Ranaut's invocation of 2047 and the Naxal threat in the same breath as Vande Mataram signals a deliberate attempt to stitch cultural grievance into a wider ideological frame ahead of state polls.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vande Mataram controversy involving Sonia Gandhi?
During the Congress party's Independence Day event on 15 August at Indira Bhavan, singers allegedly continued rendering Vande Mataram beyond the first two stanzas — the party's stated limit. Sonia Gandhi reportedly gestured to stop the full rendition, an episode that has since triggered political controversy.
What did Kangana Ranaut say about the Congress?
Ranaut claimed that 'Congress is not only becoming anti-BJP, but also against the country,' citing the alleged attempt to stop the full rendition of Vande Mataram. She described the incident as 'deeply concerning' and linked it to broader opposition to India's cultural consciousness.
Why does the Congress restrict Vande Mataram to two stanzas?
The Congress has historically maintained that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram are rendered at official functions, a position rooted in a decades-old national consensus dating to the Constituent Assembly era. The party has not officially explained Saturday's reported deviation from this practice.
Who is Kangana Ranaut and what is her political role?
Kangana Ranaut is a Bollywood actress and BJP Member of Parliament. She has been a vocal supporter of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, frequently commenting on political and cultural issues.
What is the BJP's broader message around this episode?
The BJP has used the incident to reinforce its narrative that the Congress is out of step with mainstream Indian national sentiment. Ranaut also used the occasion to highlight the party's focus on countering Naxal ideology and engaging youth through social media.
