Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticised the Congress for its stand on Vande Mataram, the National Song. Singh argued that the Congress Working Committee resolution dated 1937 is constitutionally serious because it is cited to justify singing only two stanzas.

What happened (Rajnath Singh’s criticisms and warnings)

Rajnath Singh’s remarks in the Vande Mataram observance dispute included the following claims:

Rajnath Singh described the Congress Working Committee resolution (1937) as “constitutionally serious” in the context of justifying Vande Mataram observance rules.Rajnath Singh linked the Congress’s justification to singing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram.Rajnath Singh stated that Parliament is the supreme institution and that laws passed by Parliament are binding.Rajnath Singh argued that refusing to respect the National Song indicates doubt about a person’s respect for the Constitution and patriotism.Rajnath Singh claimed that the 1937 resolution amounted to capitulation to extremist demands of the Muslim League and that Partition followed as a consequence.Rajnath Singh warned that compromising before extremist elements is disastrous and suggested that the Congress’s current stance poses a similar danger for the future.

Background and earlier position (political dispute on national song observance)

The political dispute around Vande Mataram concerns public observance of the National Song, including how many stanzas should be sung. Rajnath Singh framed the Congress’s defence of observing only two stanzas as relying on the 1937 Congress Working Committee resolution.

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