Bengaluru, Sept. 11 -- A decision by the Karnataka government to prescribe the singing of only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' at state government functions has triggered a sharp political exchange, with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and KPCC president BK Hariprasad hitting back at the Bharatiya Janta Party's criticism.

Shivakumar said the Congress had already made its position clear on the issue and accused the BJP of using the government directive for political purposes.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, the Chief Minister said, "Our party's stand on Vande Mataram is clear. We are the ones who brought the national anthem. They are doing politics."

The BJP had objected to the government's decision to restrict the rendition at...