‘If There’s Even A Shred Of Shame Left…’: Amit Shah Attacks Congress Over ‘Vande Matram’ Row

Last Updated:August 16, 2026, 4:10 PM IST

Amit Shah criticised the Congress over a video allegedly showing Sonia Gandhi signalling during ‘Vande Mataram’ at the party headquarters.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (Image: X/@AmitShah)

A day after a video showing Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge allegedly signalling during the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ erupted into a row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress, accusing the party of showing “shamelessness” over the national song.

“Look at their (Congress’s) shamelessness. The anthem Vande Mataram was being sung at the Congress Party headquarters. During the anthem, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi told the Congress President to stop singing,” he said while addressing a rally in Chittorgarh.

“We all just kept watching on TV… Sonia ji, 140 crore people are watching you. This sin you have committed will never be forgiven by the people of this country. How can anyone even dream of leaving the anthem Vande Mataram incomplete? The people of Congress should feel ashamed…” Shah added.

The controversy erupted after a video from the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day showed Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge allegedly signalling during the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’. The full version of the national song was sung at the event.

The BJP’s Gujarat unit accused the Congress of insulting the national song over the incident. “The Congress party has once again insulted the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and exposed its mentality,” the party posted on X.

“For vote-bank politics, Congress has once again insulted Vande Mataram,” it added.

BJP leader Amit Malviya also accused the Congress leadership of attempting to stop the rendition of the full ‘Vande Mataram’ during the Independence Day celebrations at the party headquarters.

BJP’s Reaction

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from several BJP leaders. BJP IT chief Amit Malviya alleged that Sonia Gandhi had sought to stop the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, saying, “Perhaps Sonia Gandhi will never fully understand the profound Indianness of Vande Mataram. But she must understand why India has embraced it; because it reflects our civilisational ethos, our history, our collective memory and, ultimately, who we are”.

Malviya further said, “The impulse to disrupt Vande Mataram, a song that stirred generations of freedom fighters and became one of the most powerful expressions of India’s national awakening, will not sit well with Indians”. He also alleged, “For the first time, the entire ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day. After the initial stanzas of Vande Mataram were sung, Sonia Gandhi became agitated and asked for the rendition to be stopped rather than played in full. Rahul Gandhi too appeared to signal that it should end”.

West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Official also demanded an apology from the Congress, calling the alleged objection to the full version an “insult” to nationalism and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. He claimed that the entire state was “fuming” over the incident and accused the Congress of “trying to satisfy a particular vote bank”.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, demanded an unconditional apology from Sonia Gandhi. Describing the alleged incident as “not merely unfortunate but a shameless repetition of a historical mistake,” Chatterjee said it had caused “deep pain, emptiness, and anger” and appealed to Gandhi to apologise to the country, particularly the people of West Bengal.

Congress’ Reaction

The Congress defended Sonia Gandhi, saying her gestures had nothing to do with the national song.

Explaining the incident, the party said there was movement in the background and that Sonia Gandhi was trying to ensure a chair was arranged for Kharge, who is elderly and had been standing for a long time.

“There was some movement happening in the background. Apart from that, Sonia Gandhi wanted a chair to be arranged for Kharge because he is an elderly person and had been standing for a long time. During the protest with Rahul Gandhi at the Prime Minister’s residence, his health had also deteriorated, and he had to be taken away midway,” the Congress said.

The party further clarified that Sonia Gandhi’s actions were unrelated to the national song being played at the venue.

Key Questions Answered

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What was the Congress’s explanation for Sonia Gandhi’s actions?

The Congress explained that Sonia Gandhi’s actions were not related to the national song but were an attempt to ensure a chair was arranged for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is elderly and had been standing for a long time.

Will this controversy impact the Congress party’s image?

The controversy could intensify the political debate surrounding patriotism, nationalism, and the Congress party’s approach to national symbols. The BJP has accused the Congress leadership of disrespecting Vande Mataram, which could affect the party’s image.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More

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