# Kharge defends Vande Mataram rendition, dares BJP to book Gandhi 2026-08-18T16:02:42+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday rejected BJP allegations of disrespecting Vande Mataram by singing an incomplete version at the party's Independence Day programme. Kharge said he sang the same rendition historically used by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 'If this is a crime, file a case against Gandhiji, Nehru, and Patel,' he told ANI, adding that the Congress had passed a resolution on national songs before the BJP existed. The BJP had accused Kharge and Sonia Gandhi of talking while the national song was being performed at Congress headquarters on August 15. A video of the incident went viral, prompting the BJP to demand a public apology. Kharge, speaking in South Goa, also questioned the BJP-RSS contribution to India's freedom struggle and accused the Goa government of 'kidnapping' MLAs to form the government. He met state Congress leaders as the party begins preparations for the 2027 Goa assembly elections. All three outlets report Kharge's remarks without contradiction. Times of India and Times Now focus on the political attack on BJP-RSS, while National Herald adds that Kharge included Vajpayee in his list of leaders who sang the same version. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The coverage across the three outlets is largely neutral straight reporting, with no outlet taking a pro-government or government-critical stance on this story. Times of India and Times Now lead with Kharge's challenge to the government to file cases against Gandhi, Nehru, and Patel, framing the row as a political counterattack. National Herald adds the detail of Vajpayee's name, subtly widening the historical endorsement of Kharge's version. All three omit independent verification of which stanzas are officially prescribed for Vande Mataram, and none quote BJP leaders explaining what they consider the 'correct' rendition. The measured takeaway: the controversy is purely political, with both sides invoking historical figures to score points. The next flashpoint will be the Goa assembly elections in 2027, where Congress hopes to regain ground. The measured takeaway: the controversy is purely political, with both sides invoking historical figures to score points. The next flashpoint will be the Goa assembly elections in 2027, where Congress hopes to regain ground. ## Coverage Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with Kharge's remarks, no editorialising, includes BJP's accusation but not BJP rebuttal detail - nationalheraldindia.com (neutral report) Adds Vajpayee to historical leaders list, but remains straight report with no slant - timesnownews.com (neutral report) Dramatic headline but body is neutral, covers both sides of the row equally This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above. Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources. Last updated 2026-08-18T16:21:47+00:00. Tags: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP, Goa, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Vande Mataram Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kharge-defends-vande-mataram-rendition-hits-back-at-bjp/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kharge-defends-vande-mataram-rendition-hits-back-at-bjp/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/