The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) on 17 August launched a sharp attack on Congress and party veteran Sonia Gandhi after a video surfaced appearing to show her making hand gestures during the singing of Vande Mataram at Indira Bhavan, the Congress party headquarters, during Independence Day celebrations. Ruling alliance leaders called the incident deeply shameful, while Congress defended Sonia Gandhi's conduct, saying she was concerned about party president Mallikarjun Kharge's health in the harsh sun.

What the Video Shows

The video, which circulated widely on social media, reportedly shows Sonia Gandhi gesturing with her hands while Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress headquarters. BJP leaders interpreted this as an attempt to cut short the full rendition of the national song. Congress, however, maintained that her gesture was directed at party workers to make seating arrangements for an elderly Kharge in the intense heat — not at the song itself.

BJP and JD(U) React

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said the video showed how 'Vande Mataram' was 'disregarded and insulted' at the Congress headquarters. 'Whether it is Vande Mataram or our national anthem Jana Gana Mana, it is mandatory to stand up immediately whenever they are played or heard. However, the action Sonia Gandhi took while Vande Mataram was being sung amounts to a direct insult...' he said.

Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang called the act 'unforgivable,' adding that it showed Sonia Gandhi had 'still not accepted India in her heart.' He invoked Home Minister Amit Shah's earlier characterisation of the incident as a 'sin.' Uttar Pradesh Minister Manoj Pandey framed it as part of what he described as 'a continuous attack on India's identity, honour, self-respect and national pride.'

BJP National Spokesperson C. R. Kesavan called the alleged attempt to stop the full singing of Vande Mataram 'an indefensible misdeed,' drawing a historical parallel: 'In 1905, the Imperial British banned the public singing of Vande Mataram and made it a criminal offence,' he said, arguing Sonia Gandhi 'must be held fully accountable.'

JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan took a more measured line, saying political differences aside, once a measure is passed by both Houses of Parliament and receives presidential assent making a rendition mandatory, 'everyone should respect this law.' Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav said the public had witnessed the incident and could judge for themselves.

Congress Pushes Back

Congress MP Tariq Anwar rejected the BJP's framing outright, saying the party was 'bereft of issues and hence resorting to diversionary tactics.' He said Sonia Gandhi was simply concerned about Kharge's wellbeing in the harsh sun and had suggested arrangements be made for the elderly leader. Congress leader Husain Dalwai said she 'did absolutely the right thing,' calling her a 'courageous woman.'

Jharkhand Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey questioned why only two stanzas of Vande Mataram are traditionally sung, arguing the choice was rooted in the country's commitment to secularism. She accused the BJP of manufacturing controversy to avoid accountability on other issues, including what she called the 'black law' of the MMDR Bill.

Background and Context

Vande Mataram holds the status of India's national song, distinct from the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. Conventionally, only the first two stanzas are sung at official functions — a practice dating to the Constituent Assembly era — on account of later stanzas that some communities have historically found objectionable on religious grounds. The BJP's demand for full recitation has periodically resurfaced as a political flashpoint. This is not the first time Sonia Gandhi's conduct at a public event has drawn criticism from ruling party leaders, reflecting a pattern of political contestation over symbols of national identity.

With the controversy now firmly in the public domain, both sides are expected to keep it alive in the lead-up to upcoming state assembly sessions.