Karnataka issues order restricting Vande Mataram to two stanzas in State functions

The Karnataka government has issued an order stating that only the first two stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ are to be sung at State functions. The stand is in line with that of the Congress party at the national level.

However, the entire six stanzas will be played or sung in functions involving the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, or Governor, the order further states. The order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DIPR) follows a Cabinet decision.

The order acknowledges that Vande Mataram played an important role in instilling nationalism, unity, and patriotism among the people of the country during the Indian national movement for freedom. It refers to the order of the Centre’s Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines prescribing the singing of the official version of the song as well as the procedure to be followed while singing or playing it at various government and public programmes.

However, the order says that the State Government has considered the need to maintain ‘uniformity, dignity and appropriate protocol’ with regard to the playing or singing of Vande Mataram, and as per the nature and context of various government programmes and functions of the State, the decision has been arrived at to render only two stanzas.