Thiruvananthapuram : Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan has criticised the central government for the passage of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, alleging that Parliament approved the legislation without any discussion or voting.
Muraleedharan questioned the parliamentary procedure, stating, “We are ready to sing two paragraphs. The Parliament passed the Bill without any discussion, without voting. We don’t want a certificate from the BJP. They are always against communal harmony.”
The bill, which extends statutory protection to the national song Vande Mataram under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, was assented to by President Droupadi Murmu after being passed during the Monsoon Session. The Rajya Sabha approved it on July 29 and the Lok Sabha on July 30.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised concerns about the practical implications of the bill, which mandates the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the beginning and end of official functions, in addition to the National Anthem. In a social media post on Tuesday, Tharoor noted the amendment had been passed without discussion and questioned the expected duration audiences would have to stand during official proceedings.
He stated, “Do we really expect audiences to stand still and respectfully for six minutes before and after every function, a total of 12 extra minutes?” Tharoor, who respects both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, said he could sing the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram but not the remaining four, which had not previously been required at official events.
The amendment makes it an offence to willfully prevent the singing of the National Song or to disturb an assembly engaged in its rendition. Penalties include imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both, mirroring provisions related to the National Anthem.
The legislation forms part of the government’s wider initiative to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram, with year-long activities scheduled from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026.
