Congress MP says he respects the national song but questions the need to sing all verses at the beginning and end of every official function.
June 2, 2026: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has triggered a political debate by questioning the practice of rendering the full version of Vande Mataram at official events. Speaking amid an ongoing controversy in Kerala, Tharoor clarified that he has complete respect for the national song but argued that making all its verses mandatory at every government programme places an unnecessary burden on attendees. He noted that most people are familiar with the opening verses and that traditionally only a portion of the song has been sung at public functions.
Tharoor said the issue was not about opposing Vande Mataram but about whether the complete version should be sung both at the beginning and end of every event. Referring to the dispute in Kerala, he pointed out that the state government and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar appeared to have differing interpretations of the protocol. He added that there is no parliamentary law mandating the practice and suggested that the matter is largely based on convention.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from the BJP. BJP IT department head Amit Malviya cited Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, arguing that the full official version should be sung at designated government functions. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised Tharoor, alleging that the Congress was yielding to political pressure. The controversy has now evolved into a broader debate over ceremonial protocol, constitutional practice, and the role of Vande Mataram in official events.