Video: BJP leader's Vande Mataram demand backfires as he forgets lyrics

A BJP leader who demanded that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's proposed student event in Indore found himself in an awkward spot when journalists asked him to sing the national song. He struggled with the lyrics, and a video of the exchange has since gone viral.Nanuram Kumawat, president of Sanstha Purusharth in Indore, had raised the issue ahead of Rahul Gandhi's proposed Chhatron Ki Goonj (Students' Echo) event, scheduled for September 19. His organisation has demanded that the event begin or conclude with a collective rendition of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram.BJP LEADER DEMANDS FULL RENDITION OF VANDE MATARAMSanstha Purusharth said that the Congress has traditionally sung only two stanzas of Vande Mataram at its events. The organisation said the full national song should be sung at the upcoming student conference, particularly when thousands of students and a national leader such as Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend.The organisation has written to Rahul Gandhi and Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, seeking a clear response on whether all six stanzas will be sung at the event. Kumawat said the demand was not about supporting or opposing any political party, but about patriotism, national honour and respect for the legacy of India's freedom struggle.He also said Vande Mataram was more than just a song and described it as a source of inspiration from the country's freedom struggle.KUMAWAT FALTERS WHEN ASKED TO SING The issue took an unexpected turn when journalists asked Kumawat to sing Vande Mataram himself.Kumawat could not correctly sing even the opening two lines. After singing them incorrectly, he moved directly to the final stanza and struggled with several words there as well.The exchange was captured on video, which has since gone viral. The episode has drawn attention because Kumawat had been publicly urging the Congress to ensure that the full national song was sung at Rahul Gandhi's event.ORGANISATION SEEKS RESPONSE BY SEPTEMBER 10Sanstha Purusharth has sought a written clarification from Rahul Gandhi and Jitu Patwari on whether all six stanzas of Vande Mataram will be included in the September 19 programme.The organisation has also warned that it will boycott the event if its demand is not accepted.Kumawat said the Congress should rise above political differences and respect the spirit of patriotism by ensuring the collective singing of the national song at the student gathering.- EndsWith inputs from Dharmendra Kumar SharmaPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 23:12 IST