New Delhi – The Parliament is poised for a spirited debate on "Vande Mataram" as the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the national song. The Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence discussions today, December 8, 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiating the session around noon. The Rajya Sabha will follow suit on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, with the debate led by the Home Minister.
The debates are part of year-long celebrations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of "Vande Mataram", penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and set to music by Jadunath Bhattacharya. The Prime Minister launched these celebrations on November 7, 2025, aiming to deepen the awareness of the song's significance, especially among the youth and students.
The ruling BJP has been allocated three hours for speaking in the Lok Sabha, while the opposition will have the remaining time, totaling ten hours for the entire debate. From the opposition, key figures such as Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are slated to participate. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also expected to contribute to the discussion.
Tensions have risen between the BJP and Congress leading up to the debate. The Prime Minister has accused the Congress of omitting crucial stanzas of "Vande Mataram" in 1937, which he claims fueled divisive politics preceding independence. He stated that this decision fragmented the national song.
The Congress has defended its position, asserting that the decision to adopt only the first two stanzas was influenced by Rabindranath Tagore and reflected in the 1937 Congress Working Committee resolution. The party argues that Tagore had advised that a national symbol should not exclude or alienate any citizen. They insist that they first elevated the song, sang it at historic moments, and fought the British under its banner. The Congress has also accused the Prime Minister of attacking the legacy of India's freedom movement while avoiding present-day issues such as unemployment, inequality, and foreign policy challenges.
The debate promises to be a thorough examination of the historical context, cultural importance, and continued relevance of "Vande Mataram". It also highlights the ongoing ideological differences between the major political parties regarding the interpretation and legacy of the song.
