National Conference Honours Vande Mataram, Congress Objects
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SRINAGAR, Sept 10: A fresh political rift has emerged between the Congress and its alliance partner, the National Conference (NC), in Jammu and Kashmir over the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram at government functions.
The NC, however, hit back, maintaining that playing the complete national song at official government functions was a statutory or constitutional obligation. NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq also pointed to Congress chief ministers in other States who had participated in full renditions, questioning the consistency of the Congress position.
The dispute has exposed an ideological faultline within the ruling alliance, with the two parties taking sharply different positions
The controversy erupted after all six stanzas of the national song were rendered at the inaugural ceremony of the Jammu and Kashmir International Film Festival in Srinagar on September 7, in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah. Both leaders stood through the complete rendition.
While Delhi debates how much of Vande Mataram should be sung, Kashmir seems to have settled the matter rather effortlessly - the full song, followed by the full anthem. No debate, no drama, no fuel for the idiot-box. Just music. 🙂
— Zafar Choudhary (@ZafarChoudhary_) September 8, 2026
From the inaugural event of the film festival… pic.twitter.com/UEA50c72BT
The Congress objected to the full rendition, with party general secretary K.C. Venugopal arguing that the first two stanzas should be sung in keeping with the considered judgment of the freedom movement and the song’s subsequent constitutional journey. J&K Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra also expressed concern over the NC’s decision to support the unabridged version.
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The dispute has exposed an ideological faultline within the ruling alliance, with the two parties taking sharply different positions