The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday accused the Congress of opposing a proposed Bill that seeks to provide statutory protection to the national song Vande Mataram, alleging that the opposition party has a long history of disrespecting the iconic patriotic composition. The BJP’s remarks came after the Centre listed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill for introduction, discussion and passage during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on July 20. The proposed legislation aims to bring Vande Mataram under legal protection similar to the national anthem Jana Gana Mana.

According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat bulletin, the Bill proposes making the insulting or deliberate obstruction of the mandatory singing of Vande Mataram at official events a punishable offence. If passed, the legislation would extend legal safeguards to the national song and place it on a similar footing with other national symbols. Reacting to the development, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of objecting to a measure intended to honour Vande Mataram, especially as the country marks 150 years of the song. He alleged that the Congress and its supporters have historically opposed the song.

“Congress and its ecosystem hate Vande Mataram. The government is bringing the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act in order to give Vande Mataram, as the national song, the same respect given to the national flag and the national anthem,” Poonawalla said in a video statement. He further claimed that instead of celebrating the legacy of Vande Mataram, the Congress was raising objections to the proposed law. The BJP leader said the legislation was aimed at ensuring respect for a song that has played a significant role in India’s freedom movement.

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Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the late 19th century, Vande Mataram became a major symbol of India’s independence struggle. The song was first published in the novel Anandamath in 1882 and later gained prominence as a rallying cry during the freedom movement against British rule. The debate over the status and use of Vande Mataram has been politically sensitive for decades, with discussions often centred around its cultural significance, religious references and its role as a national symbol. While the song was adopted as India’s national song, Jana Gana Mana was chosen as the national anthem after Independence.

The proposed amendment is expected to be taken up during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where it could lead to discussions between the ruling party and opposition benches. The BJP has positioned the Bill as a move to strengthen respect for national symbols, while any opposition response is likely to focus on concerns related to freedom of expression and the manner of enforcing such provisions. The controversy adds another issue to the political agenda ahead of the parliamentary session, with both the government and opposition preparing to debate several key legislative proposals.

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