BJP Accuses Sonia Gandhi of Interrupting Vande Mataram

A political dispute erupted on August 15, 2026, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Sonia Gandhi of attempting to stop the full rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram, during an Independence Day event at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi. The BJP cited social media footage of Gandhi gesturing during the song as evidence of disrespect and hatred for the national song.

The Indian National Congress denied the allegations. General Secretary Jairam Ramesh clarified that Gandhi was requesting a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for an extended period. Congress maintained that the full version of the song was sung without interruption.

The row follows the July 2026 passage of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, which granted Vande Mataram a status equal to the national anthem. In addition to the controversy at Indira Bhawan, the BJP criticized Rahul Gandhi for skipping the official Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.