A complaint has been lodged with the Delhi Police, seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for an alleged disruption during the rendition of the National Song, “Vande Mataram“, at an Independence Day event held at the AICC headquarters on August 15.
The complaint aims for the police to first ascertain the applicability of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, before conducting a fair and time-bound investigation into the actions of the two prominent Congress leaders.
Filed on August 16 by advocates Kunal Vinayak and Shubh Sharma, the complaint alleges that during the event, Sonia Gandhi appeared to gesture and communicate with attendees, suggesting an objection to the singing of “Vande Mataram.” This claim relies on publicly circulated video footage and media reports.
Moreover, the complaint states that purported video footage shows Rahul Gandhi allegedly saying, “We are not singing Vande Mataram” while the song was being performed. This behavior raises questions regarding their intentions and requires a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities.
The advocates invoked the new bill which offers greater penal protections for the National Song akin to those currently in place for the National Anthem. The amended Section 3 proposes a penalty of imprisonment for up to three years, or a fine, or both for anyone who intentionally prevents the singing of the National Anthem or National Song.
According to the complaint, it is essential for the police to establish the legal standing and commencement date of the proposed amendment concerning the incident’s context, especially regarding when the complaint was filed.
Additionally, the complaint references a key Supreme Court ruling from 2018 in Shyam Narayan Chouksey v. Union of India, which pertains to preventing the singing of the National Anthem and disturbances during such assemblies.
The complainants request the registration of an FIR based on applicable legal provisions, followed by a diligent investigation into the alleged conduct of the Gandhi siblings. They seek appropriate action against any individuals deemed responsible and expect confirmation from the police regarding steps taken in response to this complaint.
Lastly, the advocates emphasize their intention to provide additional audiovisual content, potential witness information, and further evidence to the authorities as they become available.