Special 10-hour debate on Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha today; Government plans strategy to corner Opposition

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion today to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram. The debate, focused on the patriotic song’s role in India’s freedom struggle and its cultural heritage, will begin at 12 PM with Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiating the proceedings. A total of 10 hours has been allotted for this discussion.

From the government’s side, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Anurag Thakur, Biplab Deb, Bansuri Swaraj, Sambit Patra, Tejasvi Surya, Santosh Pandey, Saumitra Khan, and several other BJP MPs will present their arguments.

On behalf of the Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi, Priyanka Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Vimal Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy, and Jyotsna Mahant will participate in the debate.

The session is expected to see heated exchanges over Prime Minister Modi’s earlier statement accusing the Congress of removing key verses of Vande Mataram in 1937 and “sowing the seeds of partition.” This issue has already escalated tensions between the BJP and Congress before the debate has even begun.

BJP spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Sambit Patra also targeted former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, alleging that Nehru removed several lines from Vande Mataram due to concerns that they might “irritate” the Muslim community, and claimed that he needed a dictionary to interpret the verses.

Through this debate, the Modi government is preparing to intensify its attack on Congress, particularly over decisions taken during the Nehru era.