Shashi Tharoor Calls Full Vande Mataram Rendition ‘Unnecessary Imposition’, BJP Says It ‘Cannot Be Optional’

A political row has broken out between the Congress and the BJP over the Centre's guidelines on the rendition of Vande Mataram at official functions, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticising the requirement to play the full version of the national song and the BJP strongly defending the move.

The controversy gained momentum after Tharoor described the directive as an "unnecessary imposition", triggering a sharp rebuttal from BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, who argued that the protocol was backed by Union government guidelines and could not be treated as optional by states.

Tharoor Raises Objections To Full Rendition Requirement

Speaking on the issue, Tharoor said he had no objection to Vande Mataram itself, noting that it is India's national song and commands respect across the country. However, he questioned the need to play all the verses at every official programme.

"I honestly think that this is an unnecessary imposition by the central government of having to listen to all five verses every time," he said.

Tharoor also expressed concern over what he described as a requirement to play the complete version both at the start and conclusion of official events.

"Now they want all five verses at the beginning as well as the end of every event," he said.

Referring to the stand taken by Kerala, the Congress leader said the state government viewed the matter differently.

"CM has taken the view that this is optional and Kerala has chosen to exercise the option not to have the full thing," he said.

BJP Says National Song Protocol Cannot Be Optional

Responding to Tharoor's remarks, Amit Malviya maintained that the rendering of Vande Mataram at official functions is governed by Union guidelines and cannot be left to the discretion of individual states.

According to Malviya, the Ministry of Home Affairs has clearly outlined that whenever Vande Mataram is performed at official events, the complete official version should be rendered and all six stanzas should be played during designated government functions.

He further stated that the guidelines specify the occasions on which the national song must be rendered, along with the protocol to be followed by attendees, including standing in attention.

Dispute Over Centre's Authority And State Compliance

Malviya also rejected arguments suggesting that Parliament must pass a separate law before such instructions become binding. He argued that governments regularly issue executive directions, administrative protocols and ceremonial guidelines relating to official functions, national symbols and public administration.

According to him, such directives derive authority from the executive powers vested in the Union under the Constitution.

He further asserted that state governments cannot selectively decide whether to follow national observance protocols simply because they disagree with them politically.

"If every State began selectively deciding which national protocols it would or would not follow, the very idea of uniform national observances would collapse," he said.

Vande Mataram Debate Intensifies

Defending the Centre's position, Malviya said Vande Mataram should not be viewed through a partisan or political lens. He described the national song as a key symbol of India's freedom struggle and criticised attempts to treat its official rendition as a matter of political convenience.

"Vande Mataram is not a partisan slogan. It is India's National Song and a foundational symbol of the freedom movement. Treating its prescribed rendition at official functions as a matter of political convenience says more about the insecurities of those objecting to it than about the directive itself," he added.

The debate comes after fresh guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry on February 6 made the rendering of Vande Mataram mandatory in schools and at official government events across the country, setting the stage for a wider political discussion on national symbols, protocol and the balance between Union directives and state-level discretion.