As the BJP legislators continued singing ‘Vande Mataram’, the Speaker kept reading a note. The incident followed a Karnataka government order that provides for only the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung at general government programmes.
The order, which came to light on September 10, 2026, states that the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ will be sung at general government programmes. However, at programmes attended by the President, Vice President, Prime Minister or Governor, all six stanzas are to be sung.
Under the Karnataka government’s order, the remaining four stanzas will not be included in general government programmes. The arrangement has been opposed by the BJP, and the dispute was also visible in the Assembly on Monday.
The Centre’s protocol has also become relevant to the controversy. On January 28, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a detailed protocol for the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official programmes. The instructions stated that all six stanzas of the song should be sung or played at official programmes.
The instructions further stated that when both ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, are part of an event, all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ should be sung or played first, followed by the national anthem.
Against this backdrop, questions have been raised over Karnataka’s arrangement of limiting ‘Vande Mataram’ to two stanzas at general government programmes. The Karnataka High Court has also been approached challenging the order, with a petition questioning the state government’s decision.
The issue came directly into the Assembly’s proceedings on Monday when the audio of ‘Vande Mataram’ was played and stopped after two stanzas. BJP legislators immediately began singing the remaining stanzas themselves and continued doing so while the Speaker read his note.
The episode brought Karnataka’s two-stanza arrangement into the Assembly proceedings, placing the state government’s order, the Centre’s protocol and the BJP’s opposition at the centre of a fresh controversy over the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’.
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