BJP Alleges Sonia Gandhi Tried to Stop 'Vande Mataram' at Congress Headquarters; Congress Denies Claims

Following Independence Day celebrations at the Congress headquarters, the BJP accused former party president Sonia Gandhi of attempting to interrupt the singing of 'Vande Mataram' after the second stanza.

Key Highlights:
- BJP Allegations: BJP spokespersons R.P. Singh and Amit Malviya claimed that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi gestured for party workers to stop singing the national song, questioning the party's stance on the anthem.
- Congress Response: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh rejected the controversy, citing the 1937 Congress Working Committee decision—guided by Rabindranath Tagore—to sing the first few stanzas, noting that this practice has been the party's tradition since then.
- Denials: Leaders including Pawan Khera and Ashok Gehlot explicitly denied any disruption during the event, maintaining that the singing of 'Vande Mataram' proceeded without incident.