Bengaluru, Sept. 17 -- The dispute over the singing of Vande Mataram at government and public programmes has escalated in Karnataka, with Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi warning that action would be initiated against those who sing more than two stanzas.

The minister's warning comes days after the complete version of the song was reportedly sung at a Praja Seve programme in Gangavathi after MLA Janardhana Reddy insisted on its rendition. The incident has since become part of the political debate over the government's directions on Vande Mataram.

Tangadagi made it clear that organisers and participants at official programmes were expected to adhere to the government's instructions. He said the government could not permit ...