Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – A political disagreement has emerged within the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically between the National Conference (NC) and its ally the Congress, over the playing of the full version of the national song, Vande Mataram, at an official film festival. The controversy centres on the event’s adherence to protocol versus ideological sensitivities.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the National Conference has asserted that playing the complete national song at state functions is a statutory obligation, while also stating that no individual would be compelled to sing. This statement follows public criticism from the Congress party concerning the unabridged rendition of Vande Mataram at the ongoing International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK).
The incident occurred on Monday during the IFFJK, which was attended by prominent political figures including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah. The subsequent playing of the full Vande Mataram sparked a strong reaction from the Congress, which provides supporting legislative strength to the NC-led administration in the Union territory. The Congress holds six seats in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Responding to the Congress’s disapproval, Tanveer Sadiq, the chief spokesperson for the National Conference, clarified the party’s position to reporters. He emphasized the distinction between government protocol and party ideology, stating, “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 further noted that chief ministers in states not governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, such as Telangana and Karnataka, have also played the complete version of Vande Mataram at official ceremonies.
Sadiq reiterated that while the government protocol mandates the playing of the song, the party’s stance remains that individuals are free to sing if they wish, and no one will be forced. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah later amplified Sadiq’s remarks by sharing them on the social media platform X.
Earlier, on Tuesday, K C Venugopal, the Congress general secretary (Organisation), had expressed his reservations on X, posting a video from the IFFJK. He contended that the unabridged version of Vande Mataram was inconsistent with the syncretic and pluralistic spirit envisioned by India’s freedom fighters. Venugopal urged alliance partners to uphold the Congress’s 1937 working committee resolution, which had favoured a truncated version of the song to accommodate India’s religious diversity and conscience.
Further elaborating on the dissent, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra voiced his concerns on Wednesday regarding the NC’s actions. Karra stated on X that national symbols should reflect India’s constitutional ethos. He wrote, “The adopted version represented a conscious balance, preserving historic significance while remaining sensitive to India’s plural ethos.” Karra added, “National symbols acquire greater dignity when they accommodate India’s diversity, not when that diversity is asked to accommodate them.”
In a direct response to Karra’s remarks, NC spokesperson Sadiq posted on X, sharing videos of Independence Day celebrations in the Congress-ruled states of Karnataka and Telangana, where the full version of Vande Mataram was played. Sadiq tagged Karra in his post, inviting him to observe the actions of Congress Chief Ministers and share his views.
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