Srinagar, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : The dispute over Vande Mataram between the Congress party and the National Conference is intensifying in Jammu and Kashmir. Tariq Hamid Karra, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), sharply criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent comments, describing them as disconnected from reality and unfortunate.
In a statement posted on social media, Karra clarified that the Congress party’s expectations were directed at the Jammu and Kashmir government, not the general public. He argued that it was inappropriate to involve the public in this debate, asserting that the government should stand firm on its principles.
Karra raised questions regarding the inclusion of “the people of Jammu and Kashmir” in discussions surrounding government decisions. He emphasized that the government ought to make choices aligned with its constitutional and ideological responsibilities.
He also posed two questions to Chief Minister Abdullah. First, he inquired whether anyone was imprisoned for singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram during a Kerala Independence Day parade. Second, he asked if it was unreasonable to expect the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to uphold secular and inclusive values like his counterparts in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana, while limiting the presentation of Vande Mataram to its initial two stanzas at state events.
Karra noted that the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026, titled “Rang-e-Cinema,” was a government event organized by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). He pointed out that Chief Minister Abdullah himself inaugurated the event, making the attendance of specific individuals less relevant.
The controversy erupted after all stanzas of Vande Mataram were performed at the opening ceremony of the film festival in Srinagar. The Congress party objected, reiterating its stance that Vande Mataram should only be sung up to the first two stanzas and urged its ally, the National Conference, to adhere to this tradition.
In response, Chief Minister Abdullah stated that a law mandates the complete rendition of Vande Mataram at official events. He clarified that this regulation applies not just in Jammu and Kashmir but across the country and is part of established protocols for government functions.
He remarked, “It is our legal obligation to adhere to the protocols concerning the national anthem and national song. Non-compliance could lead to repercussions.”
Abdullah also highlighted that the National Conference, as a political entity, has never embraced Vande Mataram and is unlikely to change its position. However, he stressed the importance of fulfilling legal obligations as a governing body.
In a pointed remark, he questioned whether the Congress party desired that Kashmiris be jailed over this issue.
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