BJP Accuses Kerala Government of Omitting Vande Mataram

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress-led government in Kerala of violating the law after the national song, Vande Mataram, was omitted from official Independence Day celebrations. BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that Chief Minister VD Satheesan succumbed to pressure from extremist organizations, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the Indian Union Muslim League. The BJP claims the omission is unconstitutional under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act 2026, while state officials described the absence of the song as a technicality, noting that the official circular did not mandate its recital.

K C Venugopal, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, dismissed the controversy as a diversion used by the BJP to avoid discussions on national issues, such as the loss of land in Arunachal Pradesh and funds related to the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Venugopal characterized the singing of the full version of the song at the AICC office as a matter of communication and denied any conflict with the party's stance.

The dispute follows a directive from the Union Ministry of Culture and a letter from Kerala Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha instructing that the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign include the collective singing of the song. Separately, Venugopal noted that the Congress party is considering a reshuffle of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee following recent election victories and a request from president Sunny Joseph to be relieved of his duties.