Vande Mataram row blows open cracks in NC- Congress alliance

The Vande Mataram row has blown open cracks in Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling alliance, with the National Conference and Congress trading sharp barbs over the full rendition of the national song and the BJP seizing on the dispute to launch a broader political attack.

The controversy, sparked by Monday’s playing of the unabridged version at the International Film Festival (IFFJK) in Srinagar in the presence of Chief minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has since escalated into a debate over national symbols, constitutional pluralism and where party ideology ends and government protocol begins.

Tensions within Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling alliance came into sharp focus on Wednesday as the National Conference openly pushed back against its Congress ally over the playing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the official event.

The National Conference (NC) said it was a “statutory obligation” to play the full national song at a state event and that no one would be forced to sing.

The controversy erupted this morning when the Pradesh Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra took to the social media and wrote on X “National symbols, songs and traditions occupy a special place in the heart of every Indian. Their true strength lies in their ability to bind together a nation as diverse as ours. It is therefore a matter of concern that our alliance partners chose to sing the full version of Vande Mataram”. “The adopted version represented a conscious balance, preserving historic significance while remaining sensitive to India’s plural ethos”, he added.

Tanvir Sadiq, MLA & chief spokesman of National Conference, hit back saying “Jenab @TariqKarra Sb, please take a look at your congress CM’s and share your valuable thoughts with everyone. Thank you!”.

The Congress, which provides outside support to the NC-led government in the Union territory has six MLAs in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

Sadiq told reporters that government protocol must be separated from party ideology.

“The National Conference has a clear stance. When Parliament has adopted it, playing Vande Mataram becomes a statutory obligation and that is what the government did,” Sadiq said.

Chief ministers in non-BJP states like Telangana and Karnataka have also played the complete version of Vande Mataram at official functions, he said.

“As far as the party’s stand is concerned, anyone who wants to sing Vande Mataram can do so and no one will be forced,” he added.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah later shared Sadiq’s statements on social media.

Reacting to the remarks of Sadiq, Karra wrote on X “If ‘secular’ advice from our General Secretary (Organisation) @kcvenugopalmp ji was offered respectfully and in good faith, why are you offended? Take it in the spirit it was offered and move on…..”.

On Tuesday, Congress general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal posted a video of the IFFJK on X, asserting that the unabridged version of Vande Mataram “sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos that our freedom fighters envisioned and nurtured for India”.

He urged alliance partners to honour the Congress’ historical 1937 working committee resolution, which adopted a truncated version of the song to respect India’s religious diversity and conscience.