The Upper House began its special discussion on the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram”, initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He asserted that while the slogan once fueled the freedom struggle, it now symbolizes the spirit of a “Viksit Bharat” an aspirational and forward-looking nation. Shah also claimed he would list names of leaders who previously refused to sing the national song, triggering uproar from the Opposition.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge opened his address with chants of “Vande Mataram” and accused the ruling party of “newfound love” for the national song. He reminded the House that it was the Congress that transformed “Vande Mataram” into a slogan of the freedom movement and argued that the BJP is using the discussion for electoral gains.
Kharge also cited historical moments, including the release of a commemorative stamp by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the song’s 100th anniversary. He argued that the Congress Working Committee’s decision to sing only the first two stanzas was practical, not ideological.
The debate grew fierce when he questioned Prime Minister Modi’s earlier criticisms of the Indian rupee’s depreciation and foreign policy. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan intervened repeatedly, insisting that speakers stick strictly to the topic. Portions of Kharge’s remarks were later ordered not to go on the official record.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda brought a conciliatory tone, praising the unifying role of “Vande Mataram” and suggesting that India record “150 unique renditions” of the national song to mark the historic milestone.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, however, criticised the government for prioritising this discussion over urgent national matters, noting that even senior Treasury leaders were absent during the debate.
Lok Sabha Gripped by Fiery Debate on Election Reforms
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha opened its two-day debate on election reforms, led by Congress MP Manish Tewari. He questioned the legal basis of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and accused the poll body of conducting statewide exercises without justification.
Tewari also raised concerns regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), asking who controls their source code. He suggested a full VVPAT count or a return to paper ballots, citing the practices of countries such as Germany and the U.S.
Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh sharply countered the Opposition, accusing them of attempting to “destroy faith in the electoral system”. He said that the Election Commission is constitutionally empowered to conduct roll revisions and insisted that India’s election processes are globally respected for fairness.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee raised human concerns, revealing that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were facing severe pressure during the SIR, with several cases of stress-related deaths reported in multiple states.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule highlighted issues from Maharashtra elections, including alleged violence and corruption, while SP leader Akhilesh Yadav accused the administration of manipulating by-elections in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal responded with historical allegations of “vote chori”, citing the 1947 selection of India’s first Prime Minister and later events such as the 1975 Emergency and the 1987 Kashmir elections.
Aviation Minister Addresses IndiGo Disruptions
During the session, Aviation Minister addressed concerns over the recent IndiGo flight cancellations. He stated that operations were “rapidly stabilising” and daily flights had recovered to 1,800. He emphasised that accountability would be ensured, with DGCA initiating a detailed enforcement investigation.
The Minister cited pilot fatigue regulations, internal rostering failures, and the government’s role in fare caps and refunds. He stressed that “no airline, however large, will be allowed to inconvenience passengers”.
Fertilizer Concerns Also Surface in Rajya Sabha
During Question Hour, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister J.P. Nadda denied claims that 90% of India’s fertilizers were imported from China. He emphasised that hoarding and distribution issues fall under state jurisdiction and urged timely coordination between state governments and manufacturers.