Tension briefly prevailed in Uppinangady, Dakshina Kannada district, during a Ganeshotsava immersion procession after a sub-inspector intervened and stopped the playing of ‘Vande Mataram,’ insisting that the song be limited to two stanzas. The incident occurred during the Ganesha murthi immersion organized by the Sarvajanika Sri Ganeshotsava Samiti Seva Trust, which is celebrating its 50th year.

According to the Udayavani reports, a recorded version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was being played before the immersion of the Ganesha murthi when Uppinangady SI Sutesh intervened and stopped the song after two stanzas. The move angered Hindu devotees present at the spot, who questioned the decision and insisted that the song be allowed to continue in its entirety.

The situation soon became tense as a large number of Hindu devotees gathered and demanded that the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ be played. The Hindu devotees refused to accept the interruption and pressed the police to allow the remaining portion of the song. The confrontation created a tense atmosphere at the immersion venue for some time.

As the situation appeared to be escalating, the SI eventually relented and permitted the complete song to be played. The full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ was subsequently played, after which the Ganesha immersion rituals were performed with the prescribed dharmik pooja ritual and ceremonies.

Hindu processions targeted in the name of ‘protocol’

The Uppinangady incident has come at a time when Karnataka is already witnessing a wider controversy over the rendition of Vande Mataram. The Congress-led Karnataka government recently ignited controversy that only the first two stanzas be sung at most state government programs, while making exceptions for programs attended by the president, vice president, prime minister, or governor.

However, the decision has drawn strong political criticism, particularly because the Union Home Ministry’s 2026 protocol provides for all six stanzas when Vande Mataram and the national anthem are rendered together. The issue has also reached the Karnataka High Court, where the state’s two-stanza directive is being challenged.

Against this backdrop, the reported intervention at a Ganeshotsava immersion in Uppinangady raises an important question: why should the playing of a national song at a public celebration become a point of confrontation in the first place?
If the restriction was based on an applicable government protocol, authorities should clearly explain its legal and administrative basis; if no such restriction applied to the private religious event, questions naturally arise over why the song was stopped after two stanzas. Isn’t this nothing but a deliberate attempt to escalate a fight during a Hindu religious event? Why are Hindu events always targeted in the name of government protocols? Does the government impose the same kind of restrictions during Eid celebrations? Does the same timing rule apply to Islamic religious processions? No. This is something we should understand: why is the Hindu community being targeted in this manner by the leftist governments?