New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday delivered a pointed critique of the Indian National Congress (INC), dubbing it the 'Islamabad National Congress' following a reported blunder in the performance of the national anthem during a Congress event in Kerala.

Poonawalla asserted that the Congress party routinely shows disrespect towards national symbols, leading to their inability to accurately sing India’s national anthem. This statement followed an embarrassing episode at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, where a line of the national anthem was incorrectly sung during a party function.

In an interview with IANS, Shehzad Poonawalla remarked, “This INC is not the Indian National Congress. It is the Islamabad National Congress. That is why they are well-acquainted with the anthems of Islamabad, Karachi, and Pakistan, yet they continually mispronounce India’s national anthem.”

He also recalled previous incidents of similar nature. “A few years back, the Congress unit in Kerala misrepresented the anthem, and now it has happened again. This time, it took place in the presence of senior figure A.K. Antony. During Rahul Gandhi's yatra earlier, Nepal’s national anthem was sung incorrectly. These recurring errors reflect their mindset,” he stated to IANS.

Poonawalla went further to claim that the Congress leadership is influenced by foreign powers. “Their allegiance lies with foreign leaders, and their leadership seems to be swayed by external influences. They question the Indian state, challenge the Indian armed forces, and cast doubts on constitutional institutions. How can such individuals be expected to properly learn India’s national anthem or ‘Vande Mataram’? This is why these mistakes keep happening,” he added.

The incident unfolded during the 141st foundation day celebration of the Indian National Congress at the KPCC office. After the flag hoisting event, party leaders gathered to sing the national anthem. However, instead of correctly starting with “Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he,” the lead singer erroneously began with “Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he.”

A video capturing the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread backlash and sharp reactions from opposition parties and the public. The mistake occurred in front of senior Congress leaders, including A.K. Antony, V.M. Sudheeran, P.C. Vishnunadh MLA, and AICC General Secretary Deepa Dasmunsi.

The footage of the incorrect rendition was broadly aired by television channels, leading to embarrassment for the party. Despite the blunder, no leader intervened to correct it, and the anthem was concluded in its incorrect form.

This is not the first instance the Congress has faced criticism for such missteps. Earlier this year, a similar error occurred at another party event, with the video also going viral and attracting significant public scrutiny.

No immediate comment from the Congress leadership regarding the incident was available.