New Delhi, July 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the National Song, Vande Mataram, to receive legal protection similar to that accorded to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
The Bill was passed by voice vote following a brief debate amid noisy protests by Opposition members, who continued to raise the issue of alleged police excesses during protests over the NEET paper leak controversy. The legislation had already been approved by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Once it receives the President’s assent, the Bill will become law, making the intentional disruption of or prevention from singing Vande Mataram a punishable offence under the amended provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.
During the debate, the DMK opposed the legislation, alleging that it was being imposed without wider public consensus and could deepen social divisions.
DMK MP Kanimozhi argued that the country’s founding leaders had deliberately adopted only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram and accused the Union Government of using the legislation to pursue a divisive agenda. She also questioned the decision to pass the Bill amid disruptions in the House.
Defending the legislation, BJP MP Sambit Patra said Parliament had already held extensive discussions on the national song and that the amendment was intended to provide it with long-awaited legal protection. He said the legislation would enable citizens to accord Vande Mataram the same respect as the National Anthem.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said Vande Mataram is a symbol of national pride and asserted that the legislation would strengthen the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. He also criticised the Congress leadership under Jawaharlal Nehru for adopting only a truncated version of the national song, describing the amendment as a corrective measure.
With approval from both Houses of Parliament, the Bill now awaits the President’s assent before becoming law.
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