NEW DELHI: The Indian Parliament has passed an amendment bill granting the national song Vande Mataram the same legal protection currently afforded to the national anthem Jana Gana Mana, the national flag, and the Constitution.
The legislation, introduced by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, was approved by a majority in both houses of Parliament and now awaits the assent of the President before becoming law.
The amendment will come into force nationwide, extending the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 to include Vande Mataram.
The Indian government said the amendment is intended to preserve the dignity of the national song and strengthen national unity.
In this sense, the legislation is not aimed at targeting any religion, individual, or ideology but seeks to recognize Vande Mataram as an important symbol of India’s freedom movement deserving of the same legal protection as the national anthem.
Government representatives argued that the song played a significant role during the country’s struggle for independence and should therefore receive equal legal status under the law protecting national symbols.
However, the bill has sparked criticism from opposition parties and minority representatives. President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the legislation, arguing that it conflicts with constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
He stated that certain portions of Vande Mataram contain references to Hindu deities and expressed concern that the law could impose a particular religious interpretation on minority communities.
Several opposition parties, including the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Trinamool Congress (TMC), and others, also opposed the bill.
They argued that the amendment is inconsistent with India’s secular constitutional framework and the principles of religious freedom.
The opposition leaders maintained that the Constituent Assembly had officially recognized only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram as the national song, making additional legal restrictions unnecessary.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board also voiced reservations over the amendment, stating that legislating a particular religious or ideological concept for all citizens would be contrary to the spirit of the Indian Constitution. The organization urged the government to reconsider the legislation.
