Italian blood...: HD Kumaraswamy attacks Sonia Gandhi over Vande Mataram row

HD Kumaraswamy attacked Sonia Gandhi while questioning Congress's explanation in the Vande Mataram row. His remarks sharpened the political controversy over gestures at the party's Independence Day programme.

In Short

• The controversy centres on alleged gestures during Vande Mataram at Congress programme
• Congress said the gestures were meant to ask people to arrange chairs
• Kumaraswamy urged people to examine the incidents from the event closely

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has launched a sharp attack on Sonia Gandhi amid the controversy over the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day, saying “Italian blood” runs through her veins and questioning the party’s explanation of the incident.

“What can you expect from Sonia Gandhi? Sonia Gandhi is not originally from our country; she came here after marriage. But most of the blood flowing through her veins is Italian, isn’t it?” Kumaraswamy said.

His remarks came after a dramatic episode at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, on Saturday, where the full version of Vande Mataram was sung despite the party’s position that only the first two stanzas would be rendered.

WHAT HAPPENED AT CONGRESS HQ

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge unfurled the Tricolour at the party headquarters during the Independence Day celebrations, where singers began rendering Vande Mataram.

The singing, however, continued through the full version of the national song, despite the party’s stand on restricting the rendition to its first two stanzas.

Sonia Gandhi was reportedly the first to notice that the singers were continuing with the full version. She gestured towards Kharge and later appeared to communicate with the singers, asking them to stop.

Kharge was also seen reacting to the continued rendition, while a party functionary appeared to explain the situation to the two leaders. Rahul Gandhi watched the developments from a distance.

The episode triggered a political row, with the BJP alleging that Gandhi had objected to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the Congress event.

Congress has rejected the allegation, saying there was no attempt to stop the complete version of the national song. The party maintained that Gandhi had only asked for a chair for Kharge, who had been standing for some time.

CONGRESS STAND ON FULL VERSION

Congress has opposed the singing of the complete version of Vande Mataram, with objections within the party centred on the last four stanzas.

So far, only the first two stanzas have been recognised as the national song. The Modi government, however, made singing the full song mandatory at official functions earlier this year.

Against this backdrop, the full rendition at the Congress headquarters has become the latest flashpoint between the BJP and Congress over the national song.

Kumaraswamy referred to the episode while questioning the explanation offered by Congress.

“So, regarding Vande Mataram, look at the gestures and incidents that took place during the Congress Independence Day programme the other day,” he said.

“They are now giving various reasons, claiming that we made gestures asking them to put up chairs,” Kumaraswamy said.

He said the public would decide whether the explanation was genuine.

“People will judge what is true and what is not. It is not so easy anymore to simply lie and get away with it,” he said.

KHARGE, RAHUL SKIP RED FORT EVENT

The controversy also comes against the backdrop of Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipping the official Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag.

Sources attributed their absence to what they described as “insulting” seating arrangements.

Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, and Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had also skipped the Red Fort celebrations in 2025.

Kharge instead unfurled the Tricolour at the Congress headquarters, where the Vande Mataram episode unfolded.

LAW ON NATIONAL SONG

The controversy comes shortly after Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which makes insults to the national song a punishable offence.

The Lok Sabha passed the Bill by voice vote on July 30, a day after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.

The legislation also accords Vande Mataram a status on par with Jana Gana Mana.

The developments have added a fresh political edge to the debate over Vande Mataram, with the BJP targeting Congress over the Independence Day episode and Congress rejecting the allegation that it sought to stop the full rendition.

Kumaraswamy’s remarks have now intensified that political confrontation, with the Union minister turning his criticism directly towards Sonia Gandhi over her role in the episode.

- Ends