PM Modi to Lead Special Discussion on 150 Years of 'Vande Mataram' in Parliament: Historical Significance and Political Debate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commence a special discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of 'Vande Mataram' as part of an initiative that aims to highlight many lesser-known aspects of the patriotic song.

PM Modi is expected to emphasize the song's contribution, authored by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and initially published in the literary journal Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875, to the independence movement, its historical significance, and its relevance today.

The Opposition members are particularly anticipating PM Modi's perspectives on Vande Mataram, especially since last month, during an event celebrating the song's anniversary, he accused the Congress of "removing important stanzas" from the original song during the party's 1937 session in Faizabad.

PM Modi had claimed that the Congress's decision planted the seeds of Partition and fragmented the national song. However, the Congress asserted that the decision was based on Rabindranath Tagore's advice and was intended to accommodate the sentiments of members from diverse communities and faiths.

The Vande Mataram discussion in the Rajya Sabha is expected to be initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.

According to the schedule for the Vande Mataram debate, the ruling NDA members have been allocated three hours out of the total ten hours designated in Lok Sabha for this discussion.

Previously, a political confrontation emerged just before the commencement of the Winter Session when the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reaffirmed that MPs must avoid using expressions like 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' within Parliament to maintain decorum.

The Opposition accused the BJP-led NDA of being uncomfortable with symbols representing India's Independence and unity.

The Winter Session of Parliament is scheduled to continue until December 19, and the discussion on 'Vande Mataram' is likely to be contentious in the upcoming days due to differences in opinion about the song between the treasury and opposition benches.