Tharoor Opposes Full Rendition of Vande Mataram at Official Events

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has questioned the necessity of playing all five verses of Vande Mataram at the beginning and end of official events, labelling the practice "unnecessary and burdensome" for audiences.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday amid the controversy over the singing of the national song in Kerala, Tharoor said everyone respects Vande Mataram, but making the full version mandatory at every function was difficult to justify.

"Vande Mataram is the national song



and we stand up in respect when it is sung. The first verse, or the first couple of verses, is something most people know by heart," he said. 

Tharoor noted that traditionally the song was sung once at the start of an event, while the national anthem was played separately, often at the end. 

"Now they want all five verses to be sung at the beginning of every event and again at the end. I think that is an unnecessary imposition," the Congress Working Committee member said.