Vande Mataram row: 'Jail or hang us, we'll sing two stanzas,' says KPCC chief Hariprasad
Synopsis
KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad's 'jail or hang us' declaration over Vande Mataram is more than a soundbite — it signals Congress doubling down on a two-stanza position while flipping the patriotism charge squarely onto the RSS and BJP, invoking the freedom struggle as its shield.
Key Takeaways
Hariprasad declared on 18 August that Congress workers will sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, regardless of consequences.
He called the controversy a 'conspiracy and cunning scheme' by the RSS and BJP .
Sonia Gandhi allegedly objected to the manner in which Vande Mataram was sung, not the song itself, according to Hariprasad.
He said Mallikarjun Kharge , aged 84 , was unable to stand for long — prompting a request for a chair at the event.
Hariprasad said he had not heard the purported Rahul Gandhi video but reaffirmed the Congress party's two-stanza stand.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the killing of three alleged poachers in the Hanur forest encounter.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad on Tuesday, 18 August issued a defiant defence of the Congress party's position on Vande Mataram, declaring that Congress workers would sing only two stanzas of the national song regardless of consequences. His remarks came amid a political storm over allegations that former Congress President Sonia Gandhi had prevented the song from being sung in full at an Independence Day event.
What Hariprasad Said
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Hariprasad was unequivocal: 'Even if they send us to jail or hang us, we will sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram.' He framed the controversy as a politically motivated attack, calling it a 'conspiracy and cunning scheme' by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
On Sonia Gandhi's role in the episode, Hariprasad offered a specific clarification: 'Sonia Gandhi pointed out that Vande Mataram was being sung incorrectly and insisted that it should be sung properly.' He added that she had separately requested a chair for All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is 84 years old and has difficulty standing for extended periods.
Congress Turns the Tables on BJP and RSS
Hariprasad went on the offensive, challenging the BJP and RSS to account for their own patriotic credentials. He questioned how often they sing Vande Mataram and the national anthem after the RSS prayer 'Namaste Sada Vatsale', and accused the RSS of having been 'anti-nationals when the freedom struggle was going on.'
'We need not learn from those who joined hands with the British and worked against the freedom movement,' he said. He also pointed out that slogans such as 'Azad Hind Zindabad', 'Vande Mataram', and 'Inquilab Zindabad' were born of the independence movement — and challenged the BJP and RSS to name even one such slogan they had adopted.
On the Rahul Gandhi Video Claim
Asked about a purported video in which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is allegedly heard saying the party would not sing Vande Mataram, Hariprasad said he had not heard the remarks. He nonetheless made the party's stand unambiguous, reiterating that Congress would sing two stanzas and daring the BJP to act on its threats.
Other Issues Addressed
Hariprasad also touched on his visit to Delhi, explaining that the Congress high command had deployed observers across every district to engage with local party workers and submit organisational reports. 'All of them have submitted their reports. I have been called to Delhi to discuss these reports,' he said.
On the killing of three alleged poachers in the Hanur forest encounter, Hariprasad said a magisterial inquiry had already been ordered. 'This incident should not have happened, but it has happened. After the inquiry, we will see the outcome and take further action,' he added.
The Vande Mataram dispute marks a fresh flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP-RSS combine ahead of a politically charged season, with both sides now staking claim to the legacy of the freedom movement.
Point of View
Congress is trying to make the BJP's patriotism charge boomerang. What the mainstream coverage misses is that the two-stanza convention has a long constitutional and parliamentary history, making this less a new controversy and more a recurring BJP pressure tactic ahead of electoral cycles. The more revealing detail is the Rahul Gandhi video claim, which Hariprasad conspicuously said he had 'not heard' — neither confirming nor denying — suggesting the party is still calibrating how far to go.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vande Mataram row involving Congress?
The controversy centres on allegations that former Congress President Sonia Gandhi prevented Vande Mataram from being sung in full at an Independence Day event. KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad denied this, saying Sonia Gandhi had only objected to the song being sung incorrectly, not to its singing altogether. The BJP and RSS have used the episode to question the Congress party's patriotism.
Why does Congress sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram?
Congress maintains it sings two stanzas of Vande Mataram, a position with precedent in parliamentary and constitutional practice. KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad reaffirmed this stance on 18 August, saying the party would hold to it regardless of political pressure or legal threats.
What did Sonia Gandhi actually do at the Independence Day event?
According to KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad, Sonia Gandhi pointed out that Vande Mataram was being sung incorrectly and asked that it be sung properly. She also reportedly requested a chair for AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is 84 years old and has difficulty standing for long periods.
What is Congress's response to the BJP-RSS criticism?
Hariprasad dismissed the criticism as a 'conspiracy and cunning scheme' and turned the attack around, questioning how often the RSS and BJP sing Vande Mataram after their own RSS prayer. He also accused the RSS of having opposed the freedom movement, saying Congress need not take lessons from them on patriotism.
What is the Hanur forest encounter that Hariprasad mentioned?
Three alleged poachers were killed in an encounter in the Hanur forest area. Hariprasad acknowledged the incident should not have happened and confirmed that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered, with further action to follow based on the inquiry's findings.
