Sibal questions BJP leaders on Vande Mataram rendition row

Congress leader P. Chidambaram Sibal has opened a new front in the ongoing controversy over the singing of Vande Mataram, asking whether senior BJP figures followed the practice when they held high office. Sibal's remarks appear aimed at the ruling party's stance on the national song, which has become a contentious political issue. The Congress leader questioned the consistency of BJP's position, pointing to instances involving prominent party figures in leadership roles. His comments suggest an attempt to expose what he views as a double standard in the BJP's approach to nationalist symbols and practices. The controversy reflects broader tensions in Indian politics over how national symbols should be observed and what adherence to them signifies about patriotism.