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Several BJP workers took out candlelight marches against the alleged insult to the national song, demanding an apology from the Congress party.
BJP workers organised a protest march in Jaipur and Patna against Congress leaders. (ANI)
Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers carried out protest rallies against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge over an alleged insult to Vande Mataram. The protest marches were organised in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Several BJP workers took out candlelight marches against the alleged insult to the national song, demanding an apology from the Congress party. In Varanasi, the protesters surrounded the Congress office in the Maidagin area.
Workers chanted “Congress Party murdabad” and “Vande Mataram ka apmaan, nahi sahega Hindustan” (India won’t tolerate insult of Vande Mataram). Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Bhagirath Chowdhary also joined the protest, saying the insult to a song deeply associated with India’s freedom struggle will not be tolerated.
Patna, Bihar: The BJP Yuva Morcha held a protest march against the alleged disrespect of ‘Vande Mataram’ by Congress leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.BJYM president Jitendra… pic.twitter.com/eRK56Cd90l
— IANS (@ians_india) August 16, 2026
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: BJP workers took out a torch march in protest against the alleged disrespect to the national song Vande Mataram at the Congress national office. The protesters surrounded the Congress office in the Maidagin area, where BJP and Congress workers came… pic.twitter.com/UxAXGSsn6N— IANS (@ians_india) August 16, 2026
#WATCH | Rajasthan: BJP workers organised a protest march in Jaipur against the Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi over the Vande Mataram recitation row at Congress HQ. pic.twitter.com/HZGSjEisWH— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2026
Leading the party protest in Bihar’s Begusarai, Giriraj Singh said, “These people work against the country. That is why we are protesting against them today in every district by wearing black bands. After constantly hurling abuses at Prime Minister Modi, they have now started insulting Vande Mataram as well. We will not tolerate this.”
“Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi disgraced and dishonoured our national song by refusing to stand during its rendition. This is an insult to our motherland and every Indian. We strongly condemn it and demand an apology to all 140 crore Indians,” said Tamil Nadu BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam during a similar protest in Chennai.
The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), BJP’s student wing, also organised candle marches in several states over the issue. Several students burned an effigy of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Ranchi.
What Is The Row About?
The Congress Party drew criticism after a video purportedly showed Sonia Gandhi objecting to the singing of the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ during the party’s Independence Day event on Saturday.
The BJP accused the Congress of showing disrespect to the national song, which is deeply associated with India’s freedom movement, terming it as “dirty appeasement politics”. The party also lodged a complaint against Sonia Gandhi in Bengaluru and Mangaluru in connection with the incident.
Another complaint was filed with the Delhi Police that sought a probe into the alleged obstruction during the singing of the national song “Vande Mataram” at the Independence Day function at the Congress headquarters.
However, the Congress clarified that Sonia Gandhi’s actions had nothing to do with the national song. It said there was movement in the background and that Gandhi was trying to ensure that a chair was arranged for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is elderly and had been standing for a long time.
Vande Mataram Bill Passed In Parliament
This came days after the Parliament passed a bill that makes any insult to the national song a punishable offence. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha on July 30, a day after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha. The law grants status to Vande Mataram on par with the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.
Under the proposed law, deliberately insulting, disrespecting or obstructing the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ would become a punishable offence. According to reports, offenders could face up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, in line with the penalties that already apply to offences involving the National Anthem.
In a historic first, the national song was played and sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort during India’s 80th Independence Day.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18Insulting Vande Mataram can now lead to a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both. This is due to the Rajya Sabha passing the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which grants Vande Mataram the same legal protection as the national anthem.
Ask News18About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
August 16, 2026, 22:59 IST
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