Karnataka Governor Asks CM to Reconsider Restrictions on Singing 'Vande Mataram'

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister Shivakumar, asking him to reconsider the state government's decision to restrict the singing of'Vande Mataram'to two intervals at government functions. The Congress government had recently ordered that only the first two intervals of'Vande Mataram'be sung at its functions, except at functions attended by the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister or the Governor. In a letter to the chief minister dated 22 September, the governor said that the government order of 8 September 2026 seems to be against the guidelines issued by the Centre and raises constitutional and legal questions with regard to the'Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 '. He cited Home Ministry orders relating to the National Song and National Anthem and said that the Centre had prescribed an official version for the singing of Vande Mataram. Gehlot referred to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, as amended by Section 3 of the National Constitution.