India, Sept. 11 -- Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has pushed back at ally Congress over the Vande Mataram row, calling singing all stanzas of the national song at official events a statutory requirement that cannot be sidestepped.

This came days after the Congress criticised the National Conference (NC) over the singing of the full version of the Vande Mataram at the inauguration of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir.

"They (Congress) should have stopped this in Parliament. But, a law has been enacted. Now, in a function where two governors, one lieutenant governor, and the acting chief justice of our high court are present, the national anthem will obviously be played," Abdullah told reporters on Thurs...