Karnataka BJP Legislators Challenge Two-Stanza Vande Mataram
Karnataka BJP Legislators Challenge Two-Stanza Vande Mataram
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In the Assembly, the interruption followed a procedural sequence in which Speaker G.S. Patil permitted condolences before Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar paid tribute to former MLA R.B. Shiriyannavar, who died on August 27. The BJP’s full-song recitation began after this tribute had started.
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In the Legislative Council, BJP members continued singing the remaining stanzas while Chairman Saleem Ahmed was reading the Constitution’s preamble, departing from the chamber’s usual opening proceedings.
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BJP MLA S.R. Vishwanath accused the Congress government of truncating the song to appease its central leadership, saying, “To please the Congress high command, they have truncated Vande Mataram, which is equal to the national anthem.”
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S.N. Channabasappa had previously walked out of a September 16 International Democracy Day programme in Shivamogga after only two stanzas were sung. At a later Kasturirangan-report event, his appeal for the full song triggered a brief commotion, with audience members asking him to leave the stage; D.K. Shivakumar later said Channabasappa had come to do politics rather than raise a genuine concern.
BJP legislators in Karnataka staged a defiant recitation of the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram during a special Assembly session, challenging a government order that limits the patriotic song to just two stanzas at state events Vartha Bharati. The disruption overshadowed what was meant to be a focused discussion on the state's severe drought crisis and the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats. A September 8 government order, citing Union Home Ministry guidelines, restricts performances to the first two stanzas except when the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, or Governor attends India Today.
Congress Defends Two-Stanza Policy as Legal
Congress leaders argued that the state has the authority to shorten Vande Mataram and that singing two stanzas does not violate national honour laws India Today. They contended the Centre cannot force states to perform the complete six-stanza version. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar later accused BJP MLA S.N. Channabasappa of politicizing the issue rather than raising genuine concerns Vartha Bharati.
BJP MLAs Interrupt Both Assembly and Council Sessions
In the Assembly, BJP members began singing the remaining stanzas after Speaker G.S. Patil finished condolences and Chief Minister Shivakumar paid tribute to late MLA R.B. Shiriyannavar Economic Times. In the Legislative Council, BJP lawmakers continued the full rendition while Chairman Saleem Ahmed was reading the Constitution's preamble, disrupting the chamber's standard opening procedure Vartha Bharati.
Channabasappa Pushes Back Against Truncation Policy
BJP MLA S.N. Channabasappa has repeatedly challenged the two-stanza limit. He walked out of an International Democracy Day event on September 16 after only two stanzas were sung Vartha Bharati. At a later Kasturirangan report event, his public appeal for the full song sparked audience backlash, with attendees asking him to leave the stage.
BJP MLA S.R. Vishwanath framed the issue as surrender to Congress leadership, saying truncating Vande Mataram "to please the Congress high command" is "equal to the national anthem" being disrespected Vartha Bharati. State Home Minister Priyank Kharge fired back, claiming BJP legislators "can't pronounce" the final two stanzas properly Vartha Bharati.
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