NEW DELHI, Dec 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha on Monday, while Home Minister Amit Shah will lead the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on December 9.
According to the Lok Sabha schedule, a 10-hour discussion has been allotted for the debate titled “Discussion on the 150th anniversary of national song Vande Mataram.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will speak after the prime minister. The Congress is expected to field Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the debate.
The government has been keen on highlighting the significance of Vande Mataram—composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterjee—which served as a powerful inspiration during India’s freedom struggle. Modi had earlier criticised the Congress, alleging that the party removed key stanzas from the song in 1937, claiming it sowed the seeds of partition.
On November 7, the prime minister launched year-long celebrations marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, aimed at deepening awareness among youth and students.
In the Rajya Sabha, Shah will initiate the debate on Tuesday, followed by Health Minister J. P. Nadda.
Separately, both Houses will also take up a debate on election reforms—covering all aspects of the contentious issue, including the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Lok Sabha will discuss the matter on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the Rajya Sabha will do so on Wednesday and Thursday.
The first two days of the Winter Session, which began on December 1, were marred by opposition protests over the SIR, leading to repeated adjournments. The previous Monsoon Session was largely disrupted over the same demand for a debate on the revision exercise, then underway in Bihar. (Agencies)
