Rajnath Singh’s address in Lok Sabha today highlighted the national song’s legacy and the government’s effort to revive its historical prominence.
Rajnath Singh on Vande Mataram in Lok sabha
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave an emphatic address during a special discussion in the Lok Sabha commemorating 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, on the sixth day of the Parliament’s Winter Session on Monday.
Delivering a passionate speech, Singh said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had decided to celebrate the anniversary with great enthusiasm across the country. “This celebration will not be merely symbolic. It is not for show,” he asserted. “It is a pledge to give Vande Mataram the respect it truly deserves.”
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Singh underscored that the song, despite its central role in India’s freedom struggle, did not receive the justice it deserved and was marginalised after Independence.
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#WATCH | During debate in Lok Sabha on 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “Today, as we celebrate the glorious journey of Vande Mataram for a century and a half, we must accept the truth that Vande Mataram did not receive the justice it deserved.… pic.x.com/nPzlacJSn4
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2025
Rajnath used his speech to remind the House of the sacrifices associated with the national song. He recounted how in April 1906, the British government banned public chanting of Vande Mataram, prompting widespread defiance.
Drawing from lesser-known historical episodes, Singh narrated how at Osmania University, chanting the slogan was prohibited, leading to the imprisonment of student Sri Ram Chandra for opposing the ban. These incidents, he said, reflected the courage with which Indians defended the honour of the national song.
He said, “In April 1906, the British government imposed a ban on the public chanting of the slogan Vande Mataram. People openly defied this order… Similarly, at Osmania University, chanting Vande Mataram was also prohibited. To oppose this order, a student named Sri Ram Chandra was imprisoned…”
Calling Vande Mataram complete in itself, the Defence Minister said that attempts were made to make it incomplete over the years. Emphasising the symbolic and emotional power of the song, he declared, “It is the demand of the time to restore Vande Mataram to its former glory; Vande Mataram is complete in itself, but attempts were made to make it incomplete.”
Singh’s address set the tone for the wider parliamentary discussion, placing the spotlight firmly on the national song’s legacy and the government’s effort to revive its historical prominence.
Earlier in the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the discussion and made strong remarks targeting the Congress party. Modi criticised the party, particularly highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s absence during parliamentary debates on the subject.
“Congress still insults Vande Mataram. They compromised on Vande Mataram and surrendered before the Muslim League. Nehru did a ‘tukde-tukde’ of Vande Mataram,” Modi said, asserting that the national song had been treated with disregard by Congress leaders in history.
His comments set a sharp tone, framing the discussion on Vande Mataram not only as a tribute to its historical role but also as a reminder of its continued symbolic importance in Indian politics and society.
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