Political tension seems to be brewing between the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over recitation of national song, Vande Mataram. As Abdullah embraced the complete
six stanzas of Vande Mataram on Tuesday, the Congress questioned the move, reminding him of “syncretic and pluralist ethos”.
Abdullah’s Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and the Congress party are part of the broader INDIA bloc alliance at the national level. The Congress extends outside legislative support to the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu & Kashmir government.
SIX STANZAS OF VANDE MATARAM: WHAT WAS THE TRIGGER?
On September 8, Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah stood at attention for the full rendition (all verses) played at J&K’s maiden international film festival. Both CM Omar Abdullah and his father and former CM Farooq Abdullah stood at attention for the entire duration of the song alongside other senior dignitaries. The full rendition came amid ongoing national debates regarding how the national song is performed and how various political outfits handle its verses.
‘WE WOULD LIKE OUR ALLIES…’: CONGRESS’S STERN REMINDER
As the video surfaced, the Congress responded tersely.
“The full version of Vande Mataramsits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India. For us, the considered judgment of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Acharya Narendra Dev, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu and J.B. Kripalani — shaped in no small part by the counsel of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore — remains paramount,” said Congress’s Venugopal on X.
The full version of Vande Mataram sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India.
For us, the considered judgment of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Acharya… pic.twitter.com/VngmVUmevz
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) September 8, 2026
“With respect and humility, we would like our allies to honour the wisdom and judgment of our freedom fighters, and stand with us in singing only the version of this beautiful and historic song that they adopted. That version was chosen deliberately, to keep the song from being communalised — a threat as real today as it was then. Upholding it is how we uphold the secular, inclusive character of our Republic,” he wrote on X.
WHAT IS CONGRESS’S STANCE ON VANDE MATARAM?
The wider political debate started during Independence Day events when the Congress party faced scrutiny for its rendition of the national song. Many in Congress traditionally maintain that historically only the first two stanzas are sung.
WHAT OMAR ABDULLAH HAD SAID ABOUT SIX STANZAS?
When asked about previous controversies involving Congress’s handling of the song, Omar Abdullah chose to downplay the rift rather than attack his political allies. He had stated that Congress has already clarified its position and that all main verses were ultimately accounted for during their event. He defended the initial awkwardness, stating, “We are also adjusting.”
He pointed out that Vande Mataram was only recently integrated into official Jammu and Kashmir state protocols, meaning both the public and political parties like Congress simply need time to get accustomed to the structural changes.
