Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday questioned the practical implications of the newly enacted law granting ‘Vande Mataram’ legal protection on par with the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’. His comments came hours after President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026. Tharoor focused on what he described as a practical concern surrounding the requirement to sing the National Song in full at official functions and asked whether respect and patience could effectively be legislated. The Thiruvananthapuram MP said the amendment had been passed by Parliament without discussion. According to Tharoor, the new provisions require the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung at the beginning and conclusion of official functions, in addition to the national anthem.

He said he respects both national compositions and can sing the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’, as well as the complete ‘Jana Gana Mana’, but questioned the practicality of requiring audiences to participate in the full rendition. Tharoor said the issue was not about his respect for either composition but about human behaviour and the way people respond to prolonged formal requirements. He argued that lawmakers appeared to have overlooked an aspect of “human nature” while framing the requirement. His remarks came in response to the new statutory provisions and were framed around whether legal measures could ensure genuine respect and patience among people attending official events.

The Congress leader then used the duration of the two compositions to illustrate his concern. He said ‘Jana Gana Mana’ requires audiences to stand respectfully and focus their attention for about 52 seconds. By comparison, he said the complete version of ‘Vande Mataram’ takes around three minutes and 10 seconds to perform. Tharoor suggested that the considerable difference in duration could affect how audiences respond when the full National Song is made part of official functions. His comments came shortly after President Murmu approved the legislation extending statutory protection to ‘Vande Mataram’.

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The amended law places the National Song within the legal framework that already protects the national anthem from specified acts of insult or disruption. Offences covered by the legislation can attract imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.  The amendment therefore gives the National Song a stronger legal position under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. The legislation has generated political discussion over the place of ‘Vande Mataram’ in official and public life. Supporters of the measure have emphasised the historical importance of the song and the need to protect national symbols, while critics have raised questions about how its provisions will operate in practice.

Tharoor’s intervention adds a practical dimension to the debate by focusing on the duration of the full rendition and the question of whether legal requirements can ensure the intended level of respect. Tharoor’s remarks also highlighted the distinction between legal compliance and personal sentiment. While the law can prescribe conduct during official events, he questioned whether respect and patience can be created through legislation alone. His comments are likely to contribute to the continuing discussion over the implementation of the amended law, particularly the requirement concerning the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’. With the legislation now approved by the President, the debate is shifting from its passage in Parliament to how its provisions will be applied at official functions across the country.

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