Vande Mataram Row: Karnataka BJP to Launch 5-Day Statewide March
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka announced a five-day statewide march beginning September 15 across all 224 Assembly constituencies. The demonstration comes in response to the state Congress government's directive restricting the rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram, to its first two stanzas during official public functions.
The Karnataka BJP will begin a five-day statewide padayatra on September 15 across all 224 Assembly constituencies, protesting the Congress-led state government's decision to restrict the rendition of Vande Mataram at official programmes. State BJP president B Y Vijayendra announced the campaign on Sunday, saying party workers and members of the public would submit memoranda to district authorities seeking the withdrawal of the government order, Hindustan Times reported.
March to cover all 224 Assembly constituencies
The BJP's protest march is scheduled to continue for five days, with party workers planning to meet tahsildars and deputy commissioners in different parts of Karnataka. According to Vijayendra, memoranda will be submitted during the campaign demanding that the state government withdraw its decision on the rendition of Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram: Karnataka Govt Limits State Events to First 2 Stanzas, Defies Centre Rule.
The statewide mobilisation marks an escalation of the political dispute over the national song in Karnataka, with the BJP seeking to turn the issue into a broader public campaign.
Row over two stanzas at official events
The controversy follows a Karnataka government directive issued on September 10 regarding the rendition of Vande Mataram at state government programmes and official ceremonies. The decision to limit the rendition to two stanzas has drawn criticism from the BJP, which has opposed the government's position.
The issue has emerged amid a wider political debate in several parts of the country over the rendition of Vande Mataram and the number of stanzas to be sung at official events. ‘Vande Mataram’ Row: BJP Condemns Congress CWC Decision, Plans Nationwide Campaign on Full Song.
BJP steps up pressure on Congress government
With the padayatra planned across every Assembly constituency, the Karnataka BJP is expected to use the campaign to increase pressure on the Congress government over the issue.
The protest is set to begin on September 15, and the party has said its primary demand will be the withdrawal of the state government's order concerning Vande Mataram. Further political reactions are likely as the statewide campaign gets underway.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2026 08:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
