Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the highly anticipated Vande Mataram Bill in the Rajya Sabha today as the Monsoon session of Parliament officially gets underway. The primary objective of this proposed legislation is to grant the national song, 'Vande Mataram', the exact same legal status, protection, and constitutional respect that is currently enjoyed by the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'. Through this historic move, the government aims to ensure that the national song is shielded from any form of disrespect and that uniform guidelines are established for its rendition across the country.
Proposed Jail Terms and Legal Amendments
If this new legislative draft clears both houses of Parliament and is enacted into law, it will bring about a major amendment to the existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. Under the revised legal framework, deliberately insulting Vande Mataram or intentionally causing any disruption while it is being sung will be classified as a strict punishable offence. Any individual found guilty of such an act could face a prison sentence of up to three years. In addition to jail time, a heavy financial penalty may be imposed, or the court could choose to hand down both imprisonment and a fine simultaneously. The government has brought forward this significant measure on the occasion of the year-long celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the national song.
Strict Mandatory Guidelines for Singing
The proposed bill also lays down highly specific and strict directives regarding how and when the national song must be performed. According to the new rules, singing Vande Mataram will be completely mandatory at all official government programs. The guidelines stipulate that the song must be performed right before the formal commencement of any such event. Furthermore, its rendition will be made compulsory in all schools across the nation just prior to prayers. In a significant shift, it will be mandatory to sing all six stanzas of the song. The prescribed time limit to sing the complete piece is set at exactly 3 minutes and 10 seconds. The government has also made it absolutely clear that whenever the song is being sung, everyone present must stand in the 'attention' posture.
From Anandamath to National Prominence
The national song holds an incredibly deep significance in India. The creator of Vande Mataram was Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Originally composed in a blend of Sanskrit and Bengali languages, the complete song features exactly six stanzas and takes 3 minutes and 10 seconds to sing properly. According to historical records, the song was sung for the very first time in Kolkata in the year 1896. This iconic song was first published in the original novel, 'Anandamath'.
Political Clash Between Congress and BJP
Even before the bill is officially tabled in Parliament, the political temperature has spiked, sparking a fierce war of words. The BJP is presenting the legislation as a matter of national honour. On the other hand, the Congress has voiced severe objections to the proposed law, calling it the Modi government's 'jail bharo niti' (fill-the-jails policy).
Stormy Monsoon Session Expected
The Monsoon session of Parliament begins today and will run until August 13. However, right from the opening day, it is feared that the opposition may create a massive uproar. Political observers note that opposition MPs are fully geared up to cause a ruckus over several burning issues, which include the NEET paper leak, the issue of raising Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, the E-20 petrol issue, and the Ram Mandir donation theft case.
