India, Aug. 17 -- A complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over an alleged attempt to disrupt the singing of Vande Mataram during the party's Independence Day celebrations at its headquarters in New Delhi. The complaint, filed by advocates Kunal Vinayak and Shubh Sharma, asks the police to examine the conduct of the two leaders and determine whether it amounted to an intentional disruption of the national song. The Delhi Police has acknowledged receiving the complaint and said the matter is being enquired into. Also Read - Qaumi Insaaf Morcha protest: Former MP Simranjit Mann booked, 17 others arrested Advertisement The controversy arose after a video from the August 15 event showed Sonia Gandhi making gestures and communicating with people around her as singers proceeded with the later stanzas of Vande Mataram. The Congress has previously argued that these stanzas contain Hindu religious imagery and may be objectionable to people belonging to other faiths. The complaint alleges that Sonia Gandhi's gestures indicated an objection to the continuation of the rendition. It also refers to purported video footage in which Rahul Gandhi is alleged to have said, "We are not singing Vande Mataram." The complainants have asked authorities to establish the nature and intent of the alleged conduct. The complainants have invoked the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, arguing that it seeks to extend penal protection currently available to the National Anthem to the National Song. According to the complaint, the proposed amended provision could provide for imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both for intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or National Song, or disturbing an assembly engaged in such singing. The BJP has criticised the Congress leadership over the controversy and demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi. The Congress has rejected the allegation, maintaining that there was no attempt to stop the full rendition of Vande Mataram. Separate complaints have also reportedly been filed in Odisha and Bengaluru against Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders in connection with the incident.

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