Kathmandu— Following remarks by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioning the practicality of mandating the full, over three-minute rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official functions, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan launched a counterattack on Tuesday, alleging that the Congress party has historically shown disrespect for the national song and remains overly deferential to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Tharoor raised concerns about requiring audiences to stand for extended periods during events already including the National Anthem and regional anthems, while Kesavan accused the Congress of prioritizing appeasement politics over honoring India’s freedom fighters. The exchange comes as ‘Vande Mataram’ is set to be sung in its entirety from the Red Fort on Independence Day for the first time.

Tharoor Raises Practical Concerns

Shashi Tharoor questioned the feasibility of requiring audiences to stand respectfully for an extended period during official events if the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’—lasting three minutes and ten seconds—is mandated. He contrasted this with the 52-second duration of the National Anthem, suggesting that combined with regional anthems, attendees could be expected to remain standing for up to twelve minutes per event. Tharoor asked whether such a lengthy requirement would foster genuine national respect or simply cause physical fatigue.

BJP Accusations of Historical Disdain

CR Kesavan responded sharply, alleging that the Congress party’s position on ‘Vande Mataram’ contradicted the sacrifices made by freedom fighters who he said uttered the song while fighting for India's independence. He further claimed a long-standing pattern of disdain toward the song, extending from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul Gandhi. According to Kesavan, Nehru had expressed concerns about the tune being unsuitable for orchestral arrangements and demeaned it as unfit to be a national anthem.

Historical Context of ‘Vande Mataram’

‘Vande Mataram,’ written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1882, served as a central anthem during India's independence movement. However, in 1937, the Indian National Congress—under Jawaharlal Nehru—adopted only the first two stanzas as the official national song, omitting later verses containing devotional references to Goddess Durga. This decision was made to address concerns about alienating non-Hindu communities. The BJP frames this truncation as a historical compromise or appeasement tactic, while proponents view it as an effort to ensure inclusivity in a diverse nation.

Recent Legislative Action and Red Fort Debut

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending statutory protection to ‘Vande Mataram.’ This amendment, passed by Parliament without discussion according to Tharoor, now requires the full rendition of the song at official functions. As India prepares for its 80th Independence Day, ‘Vande Mataram’ will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time, a move praised by Kesavan as restoring respect and honor to the national song.

The full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ is now legally protected and will be included in Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, marking a significant shift in protocol and continuing a debate over its historical and political significance.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.