Srinagar, September 9, 2026 : Tensions within the Jammu and Kashmir ruling alliance surfaced publicly on Wednesday after the National Conference (NC) pushed back against criticism from its ally Congress over the playing of the full version of Vande Mataram at an official event.
The controversy erupted during the ongoing International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), where the unabridged version of the national song was played in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah on Monday.
NC Defends Playing Full Version
Responding to the Congress’ criticism, NC chief spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said government protocol should be kept separate from party ideology.
Sadiq maintained that playing Vande Mataram at an official state function was a “statutory obligation” following its adoption by Parliament.
He also stressed that while the song may be played at official functions, no individual should be forced to sing it.
Sadiq pointed out that chief ministers in Congress-ruled states such as Karnataka and Telangana have also played the complete version of Vande Mataram at official functions.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah subsequently shared Sadiq’s statements on X, signalling support for the position taken by his party.
Congress Objects to Unabridged Version
The Congress publicly expressed strong reservations over the playing of the full version.
Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal shared a video of the IFFJK event on X and argued that the unabridged version did not sit comfortably with India’s syncretic and pluralist ethos.
Venugopal referred to the Congress Working Committee’s 1937 resolution, which adopted a truncated version of Vande Mataram while seeking to respect India’s religious diversity.
He urged alliance partners to honour that historical position.
J&K Congress Raises Constitutional Concerns
Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra also criticised the decision.
Karra said national symbols should reflect the constitutional temperament of India, arguing that the adopted version represented a balance between preserving the historical importance of the song and respecting the country’s plural character.
He maintained that national symbols gain greater dignity when they accommodate India’s diversity.
NC Hits Back at Congress
The NC responded directly to Karra.
Tanveer Sadiq tagged the J&K Congress chief in a post on X and shared videos from Independence Day functions in Karnataka and Telangana, where the complete version of Vande Mataram was reportedly played.
In a pointed response, Sadiq asked Karra to look at the position taken by Congress chief ministers in those states and share his views.
Alliance Differences Come to Fore
The exchange has brought into the open differences between the National Conference and Congress, which are aligned politically but have distinct positions on the issue.
The Congress provides outside support to the NC-led government in Jammu and Kashmir and has six MLAs in the 90-member Assembly.
While the NC has framed the issue around official protocol and parliamentary decisions, the Congress has emphasised historical precedent, religious diversity and constitutional pluralism.
The dispute over Vande Mataram therefore highlights the delicate balance within the alliance as the two parties navigate issues involving national symbols, political ideology and Jammu and Kashmir’s diverse social fabric.
