Karnataka Governor Writes to Shivakumar on Vande Mataram Two Stanza Policy

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar seeking reconsideration of the state government's decision to limit Vande Mataram to two stanzas at official events. 

The Congress government had recently ordered that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at its programmes, except those attended by the president, vice-president, prime minister or governor.

In a letter to the Chief



Minister dated September 22, the governor said the September 8, 2026 government order appeared to be contrary to the guidelines issued by the Centre and raised constitutional and statutory questions in the wake of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026. 

He referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs' orders relating to the National Song and National Anthem and said the Centre had prescribed an official version of Vande Mataram for rendition.