Karnataka BJP leader Vikas Puttur filed a police complaint against Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Sunday over her alleged conduct during the rendition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' at the Congress party's Independence Day event in Delhi.
A controversy erupted after a video from the event at Indira Bhawan showed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi gesturing and speaking among themselves while 'Vande Mataram' was being played. The two senior leaders were also seen calling a party worker and apparently instructing him.
BJP leader Vikas Puttur accused the Congress leadership of insulting the national song, alleging that Sonia Gandhi had attempted to obstruct its rendition and instructed party workers to stop it.
Referring to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, which he said makes obstruction of the rendition of the national song a criminal offence, Puttur sought penal action against Sonia Gandhi and urged the police to register an FIR.
Puttur said he had approached Urwa Police Station in Mangaluru with an official complaint and expressed confidence that the police would take action.
He further warned that if the state Congress government and police failed to act, he would approach the Karnataka High Court through a Private Complaint Register (PCR).
Earlier, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticised the conduct of the Congress leaders during the rendition of 'Vande Mataram', describing it as reflective of what he called a "dimagi naxal mindset".
Congress, however, rejected the allegations. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said there was no attempt to stop the national song and explained that Sonia Gandhi was asking party workers to bring a chair for Kharge, who had been standing for a long time.
The incident has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the BJP and Congress over the rendition of 'Vande Mataram' at the Independence Day event.
