Couldn't even pronounce: Kharge mocks BJP over Vande Mataram recital in Assembly
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday took a swipe at the BJP after its legislators recited the full version of Vande Mataram in the state Assembly and Council, saying they struggled to pronounce the words in the last two stanzas correctly.
His remarks came after BJP legislators sang the full version of the national song at the start of proceedings in both Houses, after the officially played recording ended with the first two stanzas. The exchange is part of an ongoing row over the Congress government’s order that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at its programmes, except those attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.
Speaking to reporters, Kharge said, "They tried to recite the full Vande Mataram. This is what I have also said, they don't know the song fully. I had said the other day that they should recite the last two stanzas without seeing a paper, phone, or teleprompter. They claim that they know the song in full by heart, but you saw them today, they were unable to pronounce those words."
He also reiterated that BJP leaders did not know the full version of the song and pointed out that they appeared to refer to the lyrics while reciting it.
Kharge said the remaining stanzas were difficult to pronounce because they contain Bengali words. "It will be difficult for all of us from this region, even you (the media). The two stanzas we have learnt from our childhood, we know that much correctly. Most of the remaining bit is in Bangla. The remaining part was added five-six years after Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed the first two stanzas; the addition was made when he later wrote the novel Anandamath," he said.
Referring to the freedom movement, the minister said freedom fighters, whether Hindus or Muslims, drew inspiration from the first two stanzas and raised slogans during the struggle for Independence, and asked, "where was the BJP then?" He added, "If BJP has so much interest in national song, let them stop singing the RSS song 'Namaste Sada Vatsale' and start practising this (Vande Mataram). But what I said is proved -- they don't know it (Vande Mataram) fully. Look how they recited individually..."
Last week, Kharge had challenged BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and state party chief B Y Vijayendra, to recite Vande Mataram in full at a public gathering without referring to paper, a mobile phone or a teleprompter, saying he would resign if they did so. He had made the challenge while responding to BJP criticism of the Congress government’s order on singing only the first two stanzas at official programmes.
Questioning why the issue of full rendition was being raised now and not when the BJP was in power in the state or at the Centre, Kharge said, "it is very clear that it is political." He added, "13 years you (BJP) have been in power at the centre, but you have brought this now. Your intent is very clear." In sum, Kharge used the BJP’s performance in the legislature to repeat his charge that the party was politicising the issue and did not know the full song as it claimed.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 21, 2026 19:05 IST
