J&K CM says he ‘will abide by Vande Mataram Act’; “unfortunate”, says the opposition PDP

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah. Files | Photo credit: ANI

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday (10 September 2026) defended the elected government’s decision to stand behind all the verses of the national song Vande Mataram during its rendition, saying “we will follow the law”.

“Congress should have stopped it (controversial Vande Mataram stanzas) in parliament. Even in Congress-ruled states, the national song is played at official events. All stanzas of the national song are now mandatory. Those who don’t stand will face legal action. What does Congress want? People going to jail in Kashmir for this?” said Mr. Abdullah.

Mr Abdullah’s remarks came after senior Congress leaders, including party general secretary KC Venugopal, questioned the Chief Minister and party leaders of his National Conference (NC) who stood behind all the verses of the song during its rendition at the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) ceremony on September 7 in Srinagar.

Mr. Abdullah said he wanted the Congress to come to power at the Center and “change the national song in Parliament.” “Let the Congress bring change in Parliament. As a party we have never accepted Vande Mataram. But we will abide by the legal and statutory duty,” he said.

“Tanvir’s legacy is a documented reality”

The chief minister also defended remarks by party lawmaker Tanvir Sadiq, who suggested that the economic emergency in Kashmir at one point had “people sharing pyjamas” until NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah brought economic reforms in J&K. The remarks drew criticism from political parties, including the BJP.

“Mr Sadiq was referring to a well-documented historical reality. Walter Lawrence and other accounts show the widespread poverty faced by Kashmiris under the Zaildar, Chakdar and landlord system. This is history, not Tanvir’s personal opinion. He wanted to highlight how far our people have come since then. There is no excuse,” Mr Abdullah said, adding that the issue was simply exaggerated.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reacted sharply to Mr. Abdullah’s remarks. Party president and former minister Naeem Akhtar termed NC’s stance on Vande Mataram as “unfortunate”.

“There is an obvious communal agenda in this. Unfortunately, the NC has accepted and embraced it. It is the Congress and Rahul Gandhi who are raising the right issues in the country, be it the issue of Waqf, Vande Mataram or Muslims facing demolition of mosques or shrines in the country,” Mr Akhtar said.

On the NC defending the pajama remarks, Mr Akhtar said the party “lacks modern style” and is “still living in the stories of 1931”. “The NC is not revising its communication skills to meet the needs of the times. Instead, the stories of the past are being retold. Unfortunately, the 5,000-year-old civilization of Kashmir is being boxed in by trivial issues,” he said.

Mr Akhtar also accused the NC of “betraying those who sacrifice and vote for the party”. “The party has traditionally treated its followers like cattle. It enjoys cursing its own people. (party leaders) consider its supporters as slaves to the party,” the PDP leader said.

Published – 10 September 2026 11:00 PM IST