Ranchi, Aug 16 (PTI) Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers in Jharkhand staged a protest here on Sunday against the alleged insult to the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ during the Independence Day event at the Congress headquarters in Delhi and burnt the effigy of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
They sought a public apology from Congress leaders.
Hundreds of BJYM workers gathered in front of the Ranchi University gate near the Shaheed Chowk, where they burnt the effigy of Gandhi and raised slogans against the Congress.
“They (Congress leaders) have insulted our national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, when it was being sung during the Independence Day event at the Congress headquarters. They failed to show respect to the song,” Jharkhand BJYM media in-charge Prince Kumar told reporters.
He also said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should be ashamed of how they “disrespected the national song”.
“They must issue a public apology,” he said.
The BJP on Sunday hit out at the Congress, alleging that its top leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge showed “utter disrespect” towards the national song when it was being sung at the party’s Independence Day event on Saturday.
The Congress, which has refuted the allegations, claimed that the BJP were trying to divert attention from real issues.
Parliament had passed a bill that makes any insult to the national song a punishable offence. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha on July 30, a day after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha. The law grants status to ‘Vande Mataram’ on par with the National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’. PTI RPS RPS BDC
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