Bill criminalising insults to ‘Vande Mataram’ passed in Rajya Sabha
· Scroll
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill criminalising insults to the national song, Vande Mataram.
Visit extonnews.click for more information.
The 2026 Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Bill was passed in the Upper House by voice vote as the Opposition protested and shouted slogans demanding a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action against protesters seeking educational reforms last week.
#MonsoonSession
— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) July 29, 2026
Rajya Sabha passes The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.@nityanandraibjp @AmitShah @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/lD7qstyY05
The bill, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, seeks to accord Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. It states that intentionally preventing the singing of the national song, or causing disturbance to an assembly singing it can be punished with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine or both.
At present, the 1971 Act provides that insulting the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, the national flag or the Constitution is punishable with up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine or both.
During a discussion on the amendment on Wednesday, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai accused the Congress of insulting Vande Mataram by resorting to appeasement politics, PTI reported.
Rai said that “Vande Mataram” were the last words uttered by several freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the independence movement.
“One cannot understand the Congress’ opposition to...