The Karnataka government has decided to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at official programmes and functions, with exceptions for events attended by certain dignitaries.
The Congress-led government in Karnataka has issued a directive to limit the performance of Vande Mataram to only the first two stanzas at official events, excluding those attended by the president, vice president, prime minister, or governor. This decision follows an order by the Union home ministry on January 28, which mandated that all six stanzas be sung first when played alongside the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
Previously, only the initial two stanzas had been performed at official functions. The omission of the remaining stanzas, which contain references to Hindu goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, was a common practice. The Bharatiya Janata Party has previously accused the Congress of omitting these stanzas as an attempt to appease Muslims.
In August, the Congress announced its intention to sing only the first two stanzas at its functions, citing a resolution from the Congress Working Committee in 1937. In December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Congress in Parliament for their alleged support of Jawaharlal Nehru's opposition to Vande Mataram due to concerns it might 'irritate Muslims'.
In August, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Act came into effect, criminalising insults to the national song.
Source:
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