Complaints filed against Sonia Gandhi over Vande Mataram incident

Complaints have been filed in Delhi and Karnataka against Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi over her conduct during the rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day. A complaint to Delhi Police seeks an FIR alleging that Gandhi gestured to stop the national song. BJP leaders also lodged a complaint at Urwa Police Station in Karnataka, accusing her of disrespecting Vande Mataram.

Videos from the August 15 event show senior Congress leaders speaking while the song was recited. BJP leaders claimed Rahul Gandhi was heard saying, "We are not singing Vande Mataram." Congress has denied any attempt to stop the rendition, saying Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay who wrote Vande Mataram, demanded an unconditional apology from Gandhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders also criticised Congress over the incident. The Congress has not commented on the new complaints.