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A video from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on the 80th Independence Day has triggered a political row. During the celebrations, the full version of the national song Vande Mataram was played in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.

Footage showed Sonia Gandhi and others making gestures and communicating while the song was being sung. Critics alleged it amounted to disrespect, claiming attempts were made to stop the full rendition. Congress clarified that Sonia was only requesting a chair for the elderly Kharge, who had been standing for a long time, and that the movements had nothing to do with the song itself.

The party maintained that the complete Vande Mataram was indeed played. The incident has intensified the ongoing debate over the national song’s full version and drawn sharp reactions from political opponents.