Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Panaji, Aug 18: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday questioned the basis of a complaint filed against party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters, saying that if singing the national song in its earlier version was a crime, complaints should also be lodged against Mahatma Gandhi and former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The remarks came amid a controversy over the rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, during Independence Day celebrations on Saturday.

Kharge had unfurled the Tricolour at the party headquarters, following which Vande Mataram was sung. Although the Congress had maintained that only the first two stanzas would be rendered, the singing reportedly continued through the full version.

Sonia Gandhi was reportedly the first to notice that the singers were continuing with the full version. She allegedly gestured towards Kharge and later appeared to ask the singers to stop.

A complaint was filed with the Delhi Police on Monday against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, seeking registration of an FIR over an alleged attempt to disrupt the singing of Vande Mataram during the Independence Day programme.

Speaking to reporters, Kharge questioned the basis of the complaint.

“We sang the same Vande Mataram that Mahatma Gandhi sang. We sang what Jawaharlal Nehru sang. For the last 18 years, we have sung what they sang, including what their Central government under Vajpayee sang,” he said.

Kharge also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that during his 12 years as chief minister, he too had sung the same version of Vande Mataram.

“If this is a crime, then they have been committing this crime for 18 years. If this is the same crime, then file a case against Mahatma Gandhi. If this is the same crime, file a case against Nehru,” Kharge said.

Kharge cites Congress resolution

Kharge further said the Congress had passed a resolution on national songs even before many of its current critics were born.

“Whatever you say, will it only happen? In the coming years, another government will come, so whatever they will say, that will happen only?” he asked.

Opposes stopping funds

On the issue of funding, Kharge said stopping financial assistance was not appropriate and argued that mistakes should instead be corrected.

He said the Congress would work with other political parties on issues requiring wider consensus and would seek to resolve matters that could be addressed.

“We are opposing it, and all the other parties are also opposing it. It is not good to stop the funding,” Kharge said, referring particularly to contributions to educational societies and other institutions.

“If any mistake is there, then correct it. Keep in jail. Instead of stopping funding, if anyone is getting the most funding, then it’s only the RSS,” he alleged.