After a turbulent opening week, the Winter Session of Parliament finally appears to have settled into a legislative rhythm. But a major political and ideological flashpoint is set for Monday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a special debate in the Lok Sabha to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram.
The 10-hour discussion will open with PM Modi’s address and end with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s concluding remarks.
Originally written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and first published in 1875, Vande Mataram is being celebrated for its historic legacy. However, the commemoration is likely to escalate into a fierce ideological confrontation following the Prime Minister’s recent criticism of the Congress party.
PM Modi recently accused Congress of removing key stanzas of the song during its 1937 Faizabad session — a move he claimed “sowed the seeds of Partition” and fragmented Vande Mataram.
The BJP-led NDA sees Monday’s debate as a platform to highlight the song’s “historical impact and contemporary relevance.” Party leaders say they will reveal “lesser-known aspects” of its role in the freedom movement and question Congress’s alleged compromise on a national symbol.
Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are set to strongly counter the narrative. They argue that the 1937 modification was based on the advice of national leaders like Rabindranath Tagore and was intended to respect the sentiments of people from diverse communities—an act aimed at fostering unity, not division.
The ideological clash is expected to intensify further when the debate continues in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The timing of this contentious discussion is significant. It comes shortly after political controversy erupted over Parliamentary decorum guidelines, after the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reiterated that MPs should avoid using slogans such as “Vande Mataram” and “Jai Hind” inside the House. Opposition parties used this to accuse the NDA of being “uneasy with symbols of India’s freedom.”
Adding to the friction, Opposition MPs are also expected to raise concerns over the massive nationwide disruptions caused by IndiGo flight cancellations over the weekend, which stranded thousands of passengers.
With last week’s logjam resolved and crucial debates on election reforms slated for later in the week, Parliament’s second week is shaping up to be a charged mix of historical symbolism and present-day political tensions.
