New Delhi [India], July 30 (ANI): The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote following a brief discussion amid protests by Opposition members.
The legislation, which seeks to make any obstruction of or insult to the national song “Vande Mataram” a criminal offense, was passed a day after receiving approval in the Rajya Sabha.
The Bill faced strong opposition from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which accused the government of using the legislation to advance a “Hindutva” agenda.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved the Bill for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha. Responding to the debate, Rai said the Union government respects all states and their linguistic identities while advocating that the national song be sung alongside the national anthem.
“This Bill is for Indian pride, not against any state or ideology. The BJP-led NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi respect state songs. We only ask that when the National Anthem is sung, the National Song also be sung alongside it,” he said.
DMK MP Kanimozhi opposed the legislation, alleging that the government was using the Bill to further its political agenda under the guise of nationalism.
“We oppose this Bill. This is a Hindutva agenda being brought in under the guise of nationalism. You cannot impose nationalism by bringing a law. This song goes against the secularism of this country,” she said.
Kanimozhi referred to the decision by India’s founding leaders to adopt only the first two stanzas of “Vande Mataram” for official use, arguing that criminalizing the failure to sing all six stanzas was an attempt to polarize the country.
“The greatest leaders, the founding fathers, had the wisdom to stop only with two stanzas. Today, you are trying to polarize this country by making it compulsory and by making it a criminal offense if we don’t sing all six paragraphs,” she said.
She further argued that the Bill disrespects Tamil Nadu and other states that have their own official songs.
“You are disrespecting Tamil people by bringing this Bill. This is an insult to Tamil Nadu and many states that have their own songs. Why are you dividing this country? You are calling anybody who opposes you anti-national. This government is anti-national. It is dividing this country by imposing this song on the people of this nation. Don’t try to hide,” she said.
Kanimozhi also objected to the manner in which the Bill was passed, noting that Opposition members were protesting issues related to the Ram Mandir donation controversy and police action against student protesters.
“You have to listen to the states,” she said, adding that passing the Bill amid the prevailing “din” in the House was not the appropriate course of action.
The amendment Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24. The existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act penalizes insults to the national flag, the Constitution of India, and the national anthem. The amendment extends the same statutory protection to “Vande Mataram.”
With the legislation now passed by both Houses of Parliament, it will be sent to the President for assent before becoming law. (ANI)
About The Author
