Srinagar, Sept. 10 -- Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday defended the singing of the full version of 'Vande Mataram' at official events, saying it is a statutory obligation that cannot be bypassed.

Abdullah was responding to criticism from the Congress over the singing of the full national song at the inauguration of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the issue had been unnecessarily politicised, asserting that the law applied across the country and was not specific to Jammu and Kashmir.

"They should have stopped this in Parliament. But, a law has been enacted," Abdullah told reporters.

The chief minister said that at an official function attended by two governors, a lieuten...