‘Didn't Hoist Tricolour For 52 Years’: Sanjay Singh Targets RSS During Vande Mataram Bill Debate | Watch

Published 30 July 2026 · politics

‘Didn't Hoist Tricolour For 52 Years’: Sanjay Singh Targets RSS During Vande Mataram Bill Debate | Watch Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 13:18

‘Didn't Hoist Tricolour For 52 Years’: Sanjay Singh Targets RSS During Vande Mataram Bill Debate | Watch Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 13:18 IST The amendment builds on the Prevention of Insults to Honour Act, 1971, which currently provides protection to the Flag, the Constitution, and the Anthem. Rapid Read AAP MP Sanjay Singh. Vande Mataram Bill: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a legislation that seeks to extend legal protection to Vande Mataram on par with the national anthem, the Jana Gana Mana. The amendment essentially means that any deliberate insult or disrespect to Vande Mataram could attract legal consequences similar to those already applies to the Flag, the Constitution and the Anthem under the 1971 Act. While participating in the debate, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said that it was “laughable" that the BJP was bringing a law to penalise insults to the national song when, according to him, the RSS headquarters did not hoist the Indian tricolour for 52 years.

“Why don’t you unfurl the flag at Sangh shakhas?" Singh asked, urging the government to bring legislation against those who had allegedly insulted the Flag and the Anthem in the past. He also referred to historical writings in the RSS-linked publication Organiser, claiming it had criticised the Anthem. Replying to the AAP MP, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai defended the legislation, saying it was a commitment to India’s national consciousness and freedom movement legacy. He accused sections of the Opposition of opposing Vande Mataram and alleged that such a stand strengthened the morale of the “Bharat tere tukde honge" gang. Rai maintained that respect for national symbols should remain above politics and said the amendment was intended to uphold the dignity of the nation rather than target any individual or ideology. The Bill was passed after a heated exchange between the Treasury and Opposition benches, with both sides invoking patriotism and the legacy of India’s national symbols to defend their positions.

Provisions Of The Bill The amendment builds on the Prevention of Insults to Honour Act, 1971, which currently provides protection to the Flag, the Constitution of India, and the Anthem (Jana Gana Mana). The central change introduced with this amendment is bringing Vande Mataram, India’s national song, under the same legal protection framework as the national anthem. This means that deliberate acts of disrespect toward the song would be treated as a punishable offence, similar to insulting the anthem. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More First Published: July 30, 2026, 13:16 IST News india ‘Didn't Hoist Tricolour For 52 Years’: Sanjay Singh Targets RSS During Vande Mataram Bill Debate | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.