President Murmu Assents: Vande Mataram Gets National Anthem's Legal Shield!
President Murmu Assents: Vande Mataram Gets National Anthem's Legal Shield!
Major legal shift! President Droupadi Murmu has approved a Bill making it a crime to disrespect Vande Mataram, giving it the same status as Jana Gana Mana. What does this mean for national honor?
In a significant move for national symbols, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday gave her assent to a new Bill, effectively criminalizing the intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the National Song, Vande Mataram. This landmark legislation grants Vande Mataram the same legal protections currently afforded to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has now officially become law following the President's approval. The Bill had previously been passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30, and received clearance from the Rajya Sabha just a day earlier, demonstrating swift legislative action.
However, the new law has not been without its critics. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor voiced concerns regarding the practicality of its implementation. He highlighted the disparity in length between the two national symbols: while Jana Gana Mana takes approximately 52 seconds to sing, a full rendition of Vande Mataram extends to around three minutes and 10 seconds. Tharoor questioned whether audiences could realistically be expected to stand respectfully for nearly six minutes, especially in contexts like Tamil Nadu, where the State Song precedes both national symbols.
Mr. Tharoor expressed apprehension that the legislation's intended objective of fostering greater respect for the National Song might be undermined, potentially leading to an opposite and counterproductive effect. His remarks underscore a debate about whether respect and patience can truly be legislated, or if such efforts might inadvertently create new challenges.
