BENGALURU: A political row erupted in the Karnataka Legislature on Monday after the official rendition of 'Vande Mataram' ended after two stanzas, prompting BJP and JD(S) legislators to sing the complete six-stanza version in protest.

The incident occurred at the start of a three-day special session convened to discuss the state’s severe drought situation and the implications of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.

In the Legislative Assembly, the recorded version of the national song was played as usual when Speaker G.S. Patil entered the House. However, it stopped after the first two stanzas. As the Speaker and ruling Congress members began reading the Preamble to the Constitution, BJP and JD(S) members remained standing and continued singing the remaining stanzas. They later raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Hind”.

A similar scene unfolded in the Legislative Council, where BJP members persisted with the full song even as Chairperson Saleem Ahmed started reading the Preamble.

The protest stems from a September 8 government order directing that only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' be sung or played at state government programmes and official ceremonies. The full six stanzas are to be rendered only at functions attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.

Opposition Leader R. Ashoka said the party would continue to sing the complete song “inside and outside the House”. BJP legislators accused the Congress government of truncating the national song and alleged the decision was aimed at appeasing the party’s central leadership.

The government has maintained that the order follows established protocol and a 1937 Congress Working Committee resolution, while insisting it does not diminish respect for the national song.