Parliament Clears Vande Mataram Bill; National Song Gets Same Legal Protection as Anthem
The bill sets up to 3 years in prison or a fine for intentionally disrupting Vande Mataram, and it now awaits presidential assent.
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Lok Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Bill, 2026, by voice vote, granting Vande Mataram status on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
- Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai accused Congress of "appeasement politics" during its 76 years of rule, asserting the government must restore respect for the song to foster "Ek Bharat, Shreshtra Bharat."
- The bill extends penal provisions against intentionally preventing the song's rendition, punishable by up to three years imprisonment, mirroring protections established under the 1971 National Honour Act.
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi opposed the bill, calling it a "Hindutva agenda," while the House rejected amendments moved by party member A. Raja, who tore documents in protest.
- The legislation now awaits presidential assent to become law, rekindling debate after Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously asserted that omitting stanzas in 1937 sowed the "seeds of partition.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Lok Sabha clears Vande Mataram Bill as DMK joins debate, opposes it
In a politically significant contrast, the DMK opposed the bill and participated in the brief debate, while the rest of the Opposition continued its protest over the violence against students' issue, leaving the House with only three speakers, including two from the Tamil Nadu-based party and erstwhile ally of the Congress, before the legislation was approved by voice vote.
Why Congress decided to sing only 2 stanzas of Vande Mataram
Vande Mataram, the national song that has stirred passions and political controversies for more than a century, received legal protection on Thursday with Parliament passing a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.
<p style="text-align: justify;">On Thursday (July 30, 2026), the 11th day of the <a href="https://www.abplive.com/search?s=monsoon-session" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monsoon Session</a> of Parliament, the Lok Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also known as the Vande Mataram Bill, amid uproar from the opposition. A day earlier, on Wednesday (July 29, 2026), the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of P…
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