Delhi Police investigate complaint against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi over Vande Mataram disruption

The Delhi Police are inquiring into a complaint filed by Supreme Court advocate Subh Sharma alleging that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi disrupted the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, during an Independence Day function at the All India Congress Committee headquarters on August 15. The complaint, filed at the I P Estate Police Station, seeks an investigation and the registration of an FIR. Sharma alleges that Sonia Gandhi made gestures indicating an objection to the song continuing and that Rahul Gandhi can be seen in a video stating, "We are not singing Vande Mataram."

BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have accused Sonia Gandhi of disrespecting the national song and attempting to stop it from being sung in full. In contrast, Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh denied the allegations, stating that Sonia Gandhi was merely asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge because he had been standing for a long time.

The incident occurs shortly after the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Act, which criminalises insults to the national song, came into effect. Additionally, the Union home ministry recently directed that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung when played with the national anthem, whereas previously only the first two stanzas were typically used. The BJP has alleged that the Congress previously omitted the remaining stanzas to appease Muslims.

Reporting on the event differs by political framing. A center-leaning source focuses on the legal specifics of the complaint and the specific allegations regarding the leaders' conduct. A left-leaning source places the complaint within the broader political context of the new criminal law and the dispute over the full version of the song.