Does Congress want to jail Kashmiris: Omar Abdullah on Vande Mataram row

This came days after the Congress criticised the National Conference (NC) over the singing of the full version of the Vande Mataram at the inauguration of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir.

"They (Congress) should have stopped this in Parliament. But, a law has been enacted. Now, in a function where two governors, one lieutenant governor, and the acting chief justice of our high court are present, the national anthem will obviously be played," Abdullah told reporters on Thursday.

The Vande Mataram song was accorded a status on par with the national anthem Jana Gana Mana in July. Parliament passed a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.