Srinagar, Sep 9 (KNS): A fresh political disagreement has surfaced between Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference and its Congress ally over the playing of the complete version of *Vande Mataram* at an official event, with both sides now publicly defending sharply different positions on the national song.

The National Conference on Wednesday sought to draw a distinction between government protocol and political ideology, asserting that the complete rendition of *Vande Mataram* at a state function was in keeping with a statutory obligation and did not amount to compelling anyone to sing it.

The remarks came two days after the unabridged version of the national song was played at the ongoing International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah.

The issue has since turned into a public exchange between the two constituents of the ruling arrangement, after the Congress criticised the use of the complete version and argued that it was at odds with India's plural and syncretic character.

NC chief spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq, responding to the criticism, said the government's action should be viewed in the context of established protocol.

"The National Conference has a clear stance. When Parliament has adopted it, playing Vande Mataram becomes a statutory obligation and that is what the government did," Sadiq told reporters.

He pointed out that the complete version had also been played at official functions in Congress-governed Karnataka and Telangana, while maintaining that the party itself would not compel anyone to sing the song.

"As far as the party's stand is concerned, anyone who wants to sing Vande Mataram can do so and no one will be forced," he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah subsequently shared Sadiq's remarks on social media, lending political weight to the NC's response to its alliance partner.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The Congress had stepped into the controversy a day earlier, with party general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal sharing a video of the IFFJK event and questioning the use of the unabridged rendition.

Venugopal said the complete version "sits uneasily with the syncretic and pluralist ethos" envisioned by India's freedom fighters and referred to the Congress Working Committee's 1937 decision to adopt a truncated version of the song in view of the country's religious diversity.

The disagreement deepened on Wednesday when Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra said national symbols should reflect the "constitutional temperament" of the country.

"The adopted version represented a conscious balance, preserving historic significance while remaining sensitive to India's plural ethos," Karra said in a post on X.

He added: "National symbols acquire greater dignity when they accommodate India's diversity, not when that diversity is asked to accommodate them."

Sadiq responded by directly tagging Karra and posting videos of Independence Day functions in Congress-ruled Karnataka and Telangana, where the full version of *Vande Mataram* was played.

"Jenab Tariq Karra saheb, please take a look at your Congress CMs and share your valuable thoughts with everyone. Thank you!" Sadiq said.

The public exchange assumes significance as the Congress, which has six members in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, extends outside support to the NC-led government while the two parties remain aligned nationally as constituents of the INDIA bloc.

The latest disagreement comes amid continuing differences between the two parties over issues of governance and political positioning in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the functioning of the ruling arrangement into renewed focus.(KNS)