<p><strong>Srinagar:</strong> Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the National Conference has never adopted <em>Vande Mataram</em> as a party position and would not do so in the future, but maintained that the government must follow the legal requirements governing its rendition at official functions.</p>
<p>Abdullah was responding to the ongoing debate over the playing of the full version of the national song at government events. He said the issue had been unnecessarily politicised and stressed that the rules apply across the country, not just in Jammu and Kashmir.</p>
<p>The Chief Minister said that a law has been enacted making the required rendition of <em>Vande Mataram</em> part of the protocol at official functions. According to him, wherever the relevant official protocol applies, government authorities are expected to comply, and failure to do so could invite action.</p>
<p>Abdullah also responded to criticism from Congress leaders over the full rendition of the song at the inaugural ceremony of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that if the Congress disagrees with the existing legal provisions, the appropriate course would be to seek a change in Parliament rather than questioning the government’s compliance with the law.</p>
<p>“As a party, we have never adopted Vande Mataram, nor will we do so in the future, but we must comply with our legal and statutory obligations,” Abdullah said, reiterating his party’s position while making it clear that official functions must follow the prescribed rules.</p>
<p>The issue has highlighted differences between the National Conference and its political ally Congress over the rendition of the national song. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal had earlier expressed reservations about the full version and urged adherence to the version historically adopted by the Congress.</p>
<p>Abdullah said the national anthem and the national song would also be part of the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival. He maintained that the administration’s responsibility was to follow the applicable protocol at government-sponsored events.</p>
<p>The controversy comes amid a wider debate over the status and rendition of <em>Vande Mataram</em> at official functions, with political parties taking different positions on the matter.</p>
