‘Should Kashmiris Be Jailed?’ Omar Abdullah Hits Back at Congress Over Vande Mataram Row

September 11, 2026

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has launched a sharp attack on the Congress over its objection to the singing of the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ at an official event in Srinagar. Abdullah questioned whether the Congress wanted Kashmiris to be sent to jail for not following the prescribed rules.

Row Erupts Over Full Version of National Song

The controversy began after the full six-stanza version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was performed at the inaugural ceremony of the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar. The event was attended by Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

The Congress objected to the full rendition and urged its alliance partner, the National Conference, to follow the historical position of singing only the first two stanzas of the national song.

Omar Abdullah Questions Congress Stand

Responding to the criticism, Omar Abdullah said the government is required to follow the law and questioned what the Congress expected Kashmiris to do if they did not comply.

Abdullah argued that if the Congress disagreed with the legal requirement, it should have opposed it when the relevant decision was being made in Parliament. He maintained that the requirement applies across the country and is not specific to Jammu and Kashmir.

National Conference Maintains Its Position

Omar Abdullah also made it clear that the National Conference has not changed its longstanding position on the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’. He said the party does not accept the complete rendition as its political position but, as a government, it has to comply with the law.

The dispute has exposed differences between the Congress and National Conference, despite the two parties being allies in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress has stressed the importance of following the historical position associated with the freedom movement, while the NC has defended the government’s decision to comply with the applicable rules.

Wider Political Controversy

The row comes amid a wider national debate over the singing of the additional stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’. The issue has also triggered political disagreements in other states, including Karnataka and Gujarat, where the Congress has taken differing positions over the rendition of the national song.

The latest dispute between the Congress and National Conference has added another point of tension between the alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir, with both sides defending their respective positions on the issue.