“Against the move to pass the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act”

PB Prince Gajendra Babu. | Photo credit: S. Siva Saravanan

The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN) appealed to the MPs to oppose the introduction of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and protect the Constitution of India. The bill is scheduled to be introduced by the Center in the Rajya Sabha on July 20.

The bill is a legislative measure to adopt the full version of Vande Mataram, as found in the novel Anandamath, as the national song of India. In a statement, the committee said: “The slogan ‘Vande Mataram’, meaning ‘I salute the motherland’, was an important part of India’s freedom movement. However, the entire song from the novel Anandamath was not fully used in the struggle.” A song in the novel portrays a deity of a particular faith such as this nation.

“Nowhere in the song do we find the name of this nation as mentioned in Article 1 of the Constitution of India. India or Bharat is the name of our motherland, but the song proposed in the bill does not mention either of them,” said PB Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of SPCSS-TN.

Published – 19 July 2026 23:00 IST