A heated political faceoff erupts over the controversy at Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, during the singing of the full rendition of Vande Mataram on Independence Day.

Congress leader Hardip Singh Kingra insists the confusion was about arranging a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge, while BJP leader Tuhin Sinha accuses Congress of disrespecting the national song and questions the party’s differing explanations. Political analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra weighs in, pointing to the video and audio evidence and challenging the “chair” explanation.

The debate also widens to the absence of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge from the Red Fort celebrations, Congress’s historical position on Vande Mataram, and the BJP-Congress battle over nationalism.

Was it really about a chair – or was there an objection to the full rendition of Vande Mataram? Watch the full faceoff.