A viral video from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi has triggered a fresh controversy over Vande Mataram, with social media users claiming that Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge appeared to ask for the national song to be stopped midway. The song, however, continued and the complete Vande Mataram was played at the party event.

The incident took place on Saturday as India celebrated its 80th Independence Day. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi were present at the party headquarters.

The video circulating on social media appears to show gestures from Sonia Gandhi and Kharge as the song was being played. Users interpreted the gestures as an attempt to stop or interrupt Vande Mataram.

However, the song continued despite the apparent gestures and was played in full.

The episode quickly led to questions online: Did Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge actually object to Vande Mataram, or was the video being misinterpreted?

What did Congress say about the Vande Mataram controversy?

Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh subsequently explained the party's position on Vande Mataram, pointing to the Congress' historical practice of singing only its opening lines at party meetings.

Khera said that at the Congress session held in Calcutta in October 1937, prominent leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, had decided that Vande Mataram would be sung at Congress events.

Jairam Ramesh referred to an October 28, 1937 meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Calcutta attended by Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Govind Ballabh Pant and C Rajagopalachari.

According to Ramesh, Rabindranath Tagore had advised Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose that only the opening lines of Vande Mataram should be sung at Congress meetings.

This practice has continued at Congress meetings, with Congress workers and the Seva Dal singing the opening lines, he added.

The explanation is important because the viral video has emerged amid an ongoing political dispute over the singing of the complete Vande Mataram at official events.

Why is the full Vande Mataram a political flashpoint?

Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, has been at the centre of a political debate after the government announced that all six stanzas would be sung at official government functions, schools and major national ceremonies.

The government also launched a year-long celebration in November last year to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram.

The Congress has criticised the move and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of politicising a national symbol.

Against this backdrop, the sight of senior Congress leaders appearing to gesture during the rendition of the song quickly became a subject of discussion on social media.

Pawan Khera on Rahul Gandhi, Kharge missing Independence Day celebrations

Khera also responded to questions over the absence of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge from the Independence Day celebrations.

He said, "They see an insult in everything. Those who did not participate in the fight for freedom or the freedom movement feel bad if they are not invited to sing at the Independence Day celebrations..."