Following its sweeping victory in West Bengal and Assam, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a proposal to accord the national song Vande Mataram a status equal to the national anthem Jana Gana Mana.
The Union Cabinet on May 5 approved an amendment to The Prevention of Insults To National Honour Act, 1971, making any insult or obstruction to the singing of the National Song Vande Mataram a punishable offence, The Hindu reported.
At present, the Act already covers insults to the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana, the National Flag and the Constitution of India, which are punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine or both.
Section 3 of the Act states that “whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.”
The Cabinet decision came a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a landslide victory in West Bengal, winning 207 out of 293 contested Assembly seats and was set to form the government for the first time in the State.
Vande Mataram, a salutation of India imagined as a mother, was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published in his novel Anandamath in the early 1880s.
In 1937, leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC) adopted the first two stanzas for gatherings, and later the Constitution of India accorded it National Song status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Congress party of truncating the song to appease the Muslim League during the British rule.
On February 6, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued instructions to States and government bodies stating all six stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung or played at official events. It also said the National Song should be given precedence before the National Anthem when both are played.
The MHA guidelines were advisory in nature and did not carry statutory backing. The Cabinet’s decision to amend the 1971 Act would make insult to the National Song a punishable offence.
The move comes during the 150th anniversary of the composition, adding symbolic weight. The demand for equal status was raised in Parliament in December last year during a special discussion.
The proposed amendment is expected to be introduced in Parliament soon. If passed, it will mark a major shift in legal recognition and protection of national symbols.
The decision was taken during the first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after election results in four states and one union territory. (With inputs from The Hindu, India Today)