Parliament set for heated debate on Vande Mataram

New Delhi, Dec 7: Parliament is bracing for a charged debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to initiate the discussion in the Lok Sabha at noon.

Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi will open the debate from the Opposition side.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also expected to intervene later in the session.

From the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Manipur MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy and Korba MP Jyotsana Mahant are among those scheduled to speak.

The BJP has been allotted three hours of speaking time in the Lok Sabha, while the overall debate will run for 10 hours.

The Rajya Sabha will take up the discussion on Tuesday, led by the Home Minister.

The decision to hold debates on Vande Mataram and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls followed several rounds of negotiations between the government and the Opposition.

The Lok Sabha will discuss the ongoing SIR exercise in nine states and three Union Territories on December 9 and 10.

Tensions between the BJP and Congress have sharpened ahead of the debate.

The ruling party has accused the Congress of dropping key stanzas of Vande Mataram in 1937, which it claims contributed to divisive politics before Independence. At the launch of the 150-year celebrations, PM Modi said a “divisive mindset” still challenges the nation.

The Congress has pushed back, saying the Prime Minister has “insulted” the national song by making such claims.

The party notes that Rabindranath Tagore himself advised adopting only the first two stanzas, a position reflected in the 1937 Congress Working Committee resolution.