Singing two stanzas of Vande Mataram is as per State government’s order: U.T. Khader

Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader addressing a Karnataka Development Plan review meeting at the zilla panchayat hall, in Mangaluru on September 15, 2026. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Defending the rendition of the first two stanzas of the national song, Vande Mataram, at the beginning of the quarterly Karnataka Development Plan review meeting in Mangaluru on Tuesday (September 15), Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader said this was as per recent orders of the State government.“In the Union government programmes, all the six stanzas of the national song will be sung. As per the order of the State government, only two stanzas were sung today. If the government revises the order and asks us to sing the full song, we will follow accordingly,” Mr. Khader told reporters.The singing of two stanzas, the Minister said, was not dishonour of the national song as defined under the provisions of Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act 2026. “For long, we have been singing two stanzas,” he said.He said recently, during the oath-taking ceremony of Ministers in Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s Cabinet, the national song was sung fully. When it comes to State government events, the government is at liberty to sing the song in the way it was sung since Independence. The decision of the State government was not as per directions of the Congress High Command, he said.Mr. Khader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not bring the law mandating the full rendition of Vande Mataram in the last 14 years. “Was there no patriotism or love for the country then?” he questioned, saying it was not right for the Union government to bring an amendment to the Act just before the elections.Fake medicinesThe Minister said he wanted the Union government to intervene in the issue of sale of fake medicines, which is being investigated a Special Investigation Team. The sale of these drugs goes beyond State boundaries and it affects health of people. Those involved in these sales should be tried for attempt to murder and other serious provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Mr. Khader said. Published - September 15, 2026 10:35 pm IST