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Politics
Congress Working Committee backs singing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram, urges education revamp
✍️ TOI India
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 05:39 AM
👁 8
The Congress Working Committee reaffirmed its stance to sing only the first two verses of Vande Mataram and called on state chief ministers to overhaul education to win over the youth.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened in New Delhi to review the party's cultural and educational strategies. Senior leaders debated the contentious issue of Vande Mataram, a national song that has sparked debate across the country.
The committee reiterated its long‑standing position that the party will continue to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, citing concerns over the verses that some groups consider exclusionary.
In addition to the cultural stance, the CWC urged all state chief ministers to undertake a comprehensive revamp of school curricula and extracurricular programmes. The aim, according to the committee, is to make education more relevant to young Indians and to counter the appeal of rival political narratives.
Party officials said the dual focus on a measured cultural approach and educational reform is intended to strengthen Congress's connection with the nation’s youth ahead of upcoming elections.
The committee reiterated its long‑standing position that the party will continue to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, citing concerns over the verses that some groups consider exclusionary.
In addition to the cultural stance, the CWC urged all state chief ministers to undertake a comprehensive revamp of school curricula and extracurricular programmes. The aim, according to the committee, is to make education more relevant to young Indians and to counter the appeal of rival political narratives.
Party officials said the dual focus on a measured cultural approach and educational reform is intended to strengthen Congress's connection with the nation’s youth ahead of upcoming elections.