Vande Mataram Stops After 2 Stanzas In Karnataka House, BJP Protests And Sings Full Version

A brief rendition of Vande Mataram at the Karnataka legislature on Monday triggered a protest by BJP lawmakers, who recited the remaining stanzas themselves after the official recording played in both Houses stopped after two stanzas.

The incident took place as the Karnataka government began a three-day special legislative session to discuss the severe drought affecting the state and the implications of the Dr Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.

Proceedings in the Legislative Assembly began with Vande Mataram. However, the official rendition ended after two stanzas. Speaker G S Patil then allowed the House to take up condolence references. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar paid tribute to former MLA R B Shiriyannavar, who died on August 27.

The BJP legislators objected to the truncated rendition and began raising slogans before reciting the full version of Vande Mataram inside the House.

A similar scene unfolded in the Legislative Council. BJP members continued with the remaining stanzas while Council Chairman Saleem Ahmed began reading the Preamble to the Constitution, following the usual practice at the start of proceedings.

The BJP members also raised slogans against the Congress government, questioning its decision not to play the complete national song.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of a Karnataka government order under which only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram are to be sung at government programmes, except at events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.

The latest incident has therefore brought the government's protocol for the national song into the centre of proceedings in the state legislature, even as lawmakers are expected to debate drought conditions and concerns surrounding the Western Ghats during the special session.