A political row erupted during the Congress Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi after a video showed Sonia Gandhi speaking and gesturing towards Mallikarjun Kharge while Vande Mataram was being performed. The BJP accused the Congress of attempting to interrupt the song, with Amit Shah demanding an apology. Congress leaders rejected the allegation, saying Sonia Gandhi was only asking for a chair for Kharge, who had been standing during the rendition.
 |
| Congress President Kharge, Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi and LoP Rahul Gandhi at Indira Bhawan, PIC: PTI |
The controversy began at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, where the full version of Vande Mataram was performed during the party's Independence Day celebrations. A video from the event showed Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi speaking and gesturing towards Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge while the song was being performed.
WATCH THE VIDEO
https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2088490634873348246?s=20
The visuals drew criticism from the BJP, which alleged that Congress leaders were attempting to stop or interrupt the rendition of Vande Mataram. The Congress rejected the allegation and said Sonia Gandhi's gesture had nothing to do with stopping the song. According to the party, she was asking for a chair for Kharge, who had been standing for some time during the performance.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also rejected the BJP's claim. He said there was no attempt to stop Vande Mataram and clarified that Sonia Gandhi was simply asking for a chair for Kharge.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, however, criticised Sonia Gandhi over the incident. He alleged that she had asked Kharge to stop the rendition of Vande Mataram and demanded that the Congress apologise.
The Congress has continued to reject the allegation, maintaining that Sonia Gandhi's gesture was only related to arranging a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge and was not an attempt to interrupt the national song.