The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has reaffirmed its long-standing decision to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party programmes.
The decision is based on a CWC resolution passed in 1937. Congress leaders said the policy was discussed again at the CWC meeting on Wednesday and remains unchanged.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the party would continue following the 1937 decision. Jairam Ramesh also highlighted the historical role of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore in the discussions surrounding the song.
The issue has triggered a political dispute with the BJP. BJP leaders have criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi over recent incidents linked to the singing of Vande Mataram.
The controversy comes as the Centre introduces a new protocol for official events. Under the guidelines, a six-stanza version of Vande Mataram, lasting about 3 minutes and 10 seconds, will be performed at designated government functions.
Congress, however, says its party programmes will continue to follow the 1937 resolution and use only the first two stanzas.