Parliament Winter Session: Vande Mataram did not get the justice it deserved, says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said,"In 1906, India’s first flag was designed, and Vande Mataram was written at the centre of that flag, which was hoisted in Bengal for the first time. In August 1906, a newspaper titled Vande Mataram was also launched to raise public awareness. This was the time when Vande Mataram was not just a word, it was a feeling, a source of motivation, and a poem…"

Parliament Winter Session: Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Today, as we celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram, PM Modi has spoken about it and given a beautiful beginning to this discussion. Vande Mataram is a part of India’s present, past, and future. It gave strength to our freedom fighters to stand and fight against the British rulers. It is a song that awakened our country and became a source of motivation. This song even reached the British Parliament…"

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a sharp attack on the government in the Lok Sabha, alleging that the ruling dispensation was raising the “Vande Mataram” debate to divert public attention from pressing national concerns.

She said the government was attempting to “level more accusations against those who fought for freedom, made sacrifices for the country,” and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of losing confidence.

According to her, “Modi is not the PM he used to be, his self-confidence is decreasing; his policies are weakening the country.”

Priyanka Gandhi said people across India were unhappy and overwhelmed by problems, while the government “is not finding solutions to them.”

Reiterating her criticism of the ongoing discussion on the national song, she said the debate was unnecessary and politically motivated, calling it a tactic to shift focus from real issues faced by citizens.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said “Vande Mataram reminds us of the history of our freedom struggle” as she questioned why Parliament was holding a debate on the national song.

“Why are we having a debate on Vande Mataram?” she asked in the Lok Sabha, asserting that there can be no dispute over a national song that has inspired generations.

Linking the discussion to electoral politics, Priyanka Gandhi said, “We are having a Vande Mataram debate as West Bengal polls are coming.”

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered “a moving address” in the Lok Sabha on Vande Mataram and its enduring significance for all Indians. In a post on X, he noted that the Prime Minister highlighted how “Vande Mataram inspired a nation, energised our freedom struggle and became a symbol of our national resolve.” Marking 150 years of the iconic song, Jaishankar added that its ethos of “resilience, inclusivity and rejuvenation” continues to guide India on its path toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu today told the Rajya Sabha that the ongoing IndiGo crisis was triggered by failures in the airline’s crew rostering and internal planning systems. Addressing the Upper House, the minister said the disruptions were “not the result of any external policy change” but stemmed from IndiGo’s own operational shortcomings. He added that the government had stepped in to minimise passenger inconvenience and that regulators were closely monitoring the situation as the airline works to stabilise its schedule.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was absent from Parliament during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address. Meanwhile, continuing the debate on Vande Mataram, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said India’s freedom struggle was shaped by many slogans and songs, not just one. He added that several powerful voices had inspired the masses during the fight for independence.

In a sharp jibe at the Congress, PM Modi noted that when Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the country was under Emergency.

Vande Mataram is once again in focus as Parliament prepares for a 10-hour debate to commemorate 150 years of India’s national song.

The discussion follows PM Modi’s recent claim that Congress “removed important stanzas” from the original song during its 1937 Faizabad session, a decision he said “sowed the seeds of partition,” targeting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The song was written in the 19th century by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, then a Deputy Magistrate under British rule. He published it on 7 November 1875 in his Bengali magazine Bangadarshan, with the full version later appearing in his 1882 novel Anandamath, where it is sung by the monk Bhavanand. Chattopadhyay reportedly created it as a patriotic alternative to the British anthem God Save the Queen.

IndiGo’s operational crisis continued on Monday, with over 300 flights cancelled nationwide, marking the seventh consecutive day of disruption. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport was worst hit, with 134 cancellations (75 departures, 59 arrivals), causing long queues and last-minute schedule changes. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport saw 127 cancellations (62 departures, 65 arrivals), while Chennai recorded 71 cancellations, adding to passenger chaos. Check out full coverage here.

Ahead of the special discussion in the Lok Sabha commemorating 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram, BJP MP Sambit Patra emphasized the song’s enduring significance in India’s freedom struggle. Patra urged citizens to “relive those times when our ancestors shed blood for this country, chanting Vande Mataram,” describing the song as a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism.

Patra further asserted that understanding Vande Mataram required no dictionary, arguing that its meaning and emotional resonance were evident to generations of freedom fighters. He credited the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reviving the legacy of national icons that, he said, were “marginalised” under previous political establishments.

Ahead of the special discussion in Parliament marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticised the RSS and BJP for their stance on the national song. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Tagore said, “RSS was not part of any kind of fight against the British, but their part… This is why they never sang Vande Mataram till we got freedom. The followers of RSS must first say what they have to speak on freedom struggle.” Tagore added, “Now the PM will try to speak on all kinds of fake narratives… Vande Mataram was a song that was included as a part of the struggle in a meeting of Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, JL Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose. Thus the RSS and BJP don’t have the right to speak on Vande Mataram other than dividing the nation.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has arrived in Parliament ahead of the Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram. He is scheduled to address the House at 5 pm today.

In the meantime, in Kerala, the Thiruvananthapuram Airport reported limited disruptions to IndiGo flights today. According to airport authorities, two incoming and three outgoing flights have been cancelled so far. One arrival and two departures have operated as scheduled, stated the Thiruvananthapuram Airport Public Relations Officer.

Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam welcomed the special discussion in Parliament commemorating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, calling it a moment of national pride. Speaking to reporters in Delhi this morning, Nikam said, “I am very happy that after many years, Vande Mataram, written by Rabindranath Tagore, is being proudly celebrated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that this song instils pride and patriotism among people.”

On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi welcomed the initiative but urged lawmakers to rise above politics.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Chaturvedi said, “It's a good thing that the Prime Minister will come and discuss Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram and Jai Hind are two slogans connected to the country's culture and the freedom struggle.”

She also questioned the timing and approach of the discussion, adding, “The same government that issued a notification in the Rajya Sabha banning the use of these slogans, when it discusses them, it seems ridiculous. I hope there will be a comprehensive discussion on Vande Mataram… I hope this doesn't turn into an agenda, keeping the West Bengal elections in mind, and that the discussion should rise above politics and prioritise the country first.”

Poonawalla also took aim at the Congress, stating, “The country will like to see when Rahul Gandhi, if participating in the discussion, would begin by apologizing to the country for the crime done by his family towards this song. Nehru ji was against this song. Prioritizing appeasement and vote bank, he started a campaign against it saying it has a communal tinge.”

The BJP leader added, “Congress continues this kind of politics and appeasement where they target national identity for vote bank. They first divided Vande Mataram in the CWC meeting, then divided the nation, and now divide the country based on caste lines. So today Rahul Gandhi and Congress should apologize for the great crime they did against Vande Mataram.”

Ahead of the Lok Sabha’s special discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla described the event as a “historic moment” for the nation.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi this morning, Poonawalla said, “The entire nation will witness a historic moment in both Houses where glorious tribute will be paid to Vande Mataram. It is not just a song, but a clarion call which united crores of Indians in their struggle against the British Raj, slavery, invaders.”

Meanwhile, BJP MP Sudha Murthy, in Delhi today, said she was “very happy” to participate in the Lok Sabha’s special discussion marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, calling the iconic composition a unifying force that instilled patriotism long before Independence. Speaking to reporters, Murthy said, “It’s not just a song; it creates patriotism among people. It was composed 150 years ago, before Independence, so this song united everybody.”

The Lok Sabha is scheduled to hold a special discussion to commemorate the milestone anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Vande Mataram, a symbol of India’s freedom movement.

In national capital Delhi, flight disruptions continued at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport today as IndiGo cancelled a total of 134 flights, comprising 75 departures and 59 arrivals, airport authorities confirmed.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) saw major disruption this morning, with 77 IndiGo flights cancelled amid the airline’s ongoing nationwide operational crisis. According to airport authorities, 38 incoming and 39 outgoing flights were cancelled through the day, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

The debate is part of a special parliamentary focus marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and first published in Bangadarshan in 1875. Incorporated later into his novel Anandamath, the hymn became a rallying cry for freedom fighters and remains deeply embedded in India’s cultural and political consciousness.

The Rajya Sabha will take up its leg of the discussion on Tuesday, with Home Minister Amit Shah leading the government’s arguments in the Upper House.

On the Opposition benches, the Congress has lined up eight speakers, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender Hooda, Bimol Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy and Jyotsna Mahant. Their interventions are expected to challenge the BJP’s interpretation of the song’s legacy and counter what they describe as the ruling party’s attempt to politicise a national symbol.