India, March 22 -- The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has warned of protests at schools and government events where the full version of Vande Mataram is sung, amid growing debate over a recent directive from the Centre.

The student body said it would mobilise its members to identify such instances and organise demonstrations, arguing that the later stanzas of the national song invoke Hindu deities and are at odds with indigenous tribal beliefs and traditions. According to the KSU, only the first two stanzas refer to the motherland, while the remaining verses contain explicit religious references.

The announcement was made during an event marking 48 years of the organisation, where general secretary Donald V Thabah said the move was necessa...