BJP legislators sang the full version of Vande Mataram in both the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council on Monday, September 21, 2026, according to reports. The move came after the official rendition in the Assembly concluded after only two stanzas.
The BJP members staged the full rendition as a mark of protest against the state government's decision to limit the official singing to the first two stanzas. The party has long demanded that the complete song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, be sung on official occasions.
The incident highlights the ongoing political sensitivity surrounding Vande Mataram in Karnataka. The song holds significant cultural and historical importance, and its full or partial rendition has been a point of contention in the state's legislative proceedings.
There was no immediate comment from the Karnataka government or Assembly Speaker on the BJP legislators' action. The protest underscores the continuing debate over the national song's role in official events.
