Priyank Kharge Challenges BJP to Have RSS Sing Vande Mataram at Nagpur Shakha
Karnataka minister questions the BJP’s focus on the national song and asks why the RSS does not sing it at its shakhas.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ask the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to sing Vande Mataram at its Nagpur shakha instead of its traditional prayer, Sada Vatsale.
Kharge made the remarks while questioning the BJP’s renewed focus on Vande Mataram. He has frequently criticised the RSS in recent months.
His comments came amid a debate over the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Bill, 2026. The legislation gives Vande Mataram, India’s national song, protection similar to that provided to the national anthem.
Under the amended law, intentionally preventing the singing of the national anthem or national song, or disrupting an assembly while either is being sung, could become a punishable offence.
Kharge also referred to discussions held in 1937 involving national leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore over which portions of Vande Mataram should be performed publicly.
He questioned whether those leaders would now be labelled anti national because of the historical debate surrounding the song.
Turning his criticism towards the RSS, Kharge asked why its shakhas do not replace the prayer Sada Vatsale with Vande Mataram if the BJP and RSS are genuinely concerned about promoting the national song.
He also challenged Modi and Shah to recite the complete Vande Mataram without using a teleprompter. Kharge further questioned how many BJP leaders could recite the entire song from memory.
The Karnataka minister argued that the political focus on Vande Mataram was drawing attention away from more pressing concerns, including the economy, unemployment and issues surrounding examinations.
In a post on X, Kharge described the controversy as a diversionary tactic and accused the BJP of attempting to shift public attention away from questions of accountability.
He referred to several issues that he said deserved greater scrutiny, including what he called Chanda Chori, repeated allegations of examination paper leaks, Nitin Nabin’s electoral loss and questions surrounding PM CARES.
“When accountability becomes uncomfortable, manufacture a controversy and change the conversation,” Kharge said, accusing the BJP of repeatedly using the same political strategy.