Rajya Sabha Passes Bill Criminalising Insult to 'Vande Mataram' Amid Opposition Walkout

New Delhi, Jul 29: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. The legislation was cleared by a voice vote amid an Opposition walkout and continued protests over police action against students demonstrating against the NEET paper leak. The House took up the bill after lunch despite repeated disruptions. Opposition members, led by the Congress, objected to the proceedings and later staged a walkout as the debate continued. Replying to the discussion, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the legislation was aimed at safeguarding India's national honour and cultural heritage. Describing Vande Mataram as the "soul of India" and a symbol of the country's freedom movement, Rai alleged that the Congress was opposing the bill due to its policy of appeasement politics. "The Vande Mataram Bill is not an ordinary piece of legislation. It represents India's soul, national consciousness and cultural heritage, and reminds every citizen of the freedom struggle," he said. Rai further claimed that opposing Vande Mataram amounted to encouraging anti-national elements and questioned why the Congress had objected to the proposed penal provisions for insulting the national song. The minister said Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed Vande Mataram in 1875 with the vision that it would one day become a patriotic mantra for every Indian. He also referred to the role of the song during the freedom movement, saying many revolutionaries chanted it before sacrificing their lives for the nation. Maintaining that respect for national symbols should remain above politics, Rai said the country's youth were closely watching the debate and asserted that Vande Mataram embodied the vision of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat." The House resumed at 2 pm after two earlier adjournments, with Deputy Chairman Harivansh urging members to maintain discipline and allow the discussion to proceed. Despite the Chair's appeal, Opposition members continued raising slogans demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action during the July 20 NEET paper leak protests in the national capital. They later walked out while Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale was participating in the debate. The amendment bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24, seeks to expand the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which currently criminalises disrespect towards the National Flag, the Constitution and the National Anthem, with punishment of up to three years' imprisonment. Participating in the debate, BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal said Vande Mataram had inspired generations of freedom fighters and alleged that the Congress had repeatedly disrespected the national song. Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Nagnath Waghmare criticised the Opposition for disrupting the proceedings, while Biju Janata Dal MP Sulata Deo suggested that Vande Mataram should be played in Parliament as well as all State Assemblies. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh said his party believes that neither Vande Mataram nor the National Anthem should ever be insulted, while participating in the discussion on the bill.