Srinagar, Sept. 10 -- The National Conference and its ally Congress exchanged sharp words on Wednesday over the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the ongoing International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) in the presence of chief minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah on Monday.

The NC, which has 42 MLAs in the assembly, said it was a 'statutory obligation' to play the full national song at a state event, but no one would be forced to sing it.

The Congress, which provides outside support to the NC-led government and shares a broader national alignment under the opposition INDIA bloc, publicly expressed strong disapproval over the incident. The Congress has six MLAs in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly....