Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in the Lok Sabha. File
| Photo Credit: Sansad TV
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) questioned the practicality of implementing the newly amended law that grants National Song Vande Mataram statutory protection on par with the National Anthem, arguing that mandating its full rendition at official functions could prove counterproductive asking whether respect and patience could be legislated.
In a post on X, Mr. Tharoor said he respected both the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and the National Song, Vande Mataram, but raised concerns about the practical implications of requiring the latter to be sung in full at the beginning and end of official functions.
“The President has assented to the Vande Mataram Amendment, passed without discussion in Parliament, which requires the singing of the National Song in full at the start and ending of any official function, in addition to the National Anthem,” he said.
Song’s duration
Mr. Tharoor noted that while Jana Gana Mana takes about 52 seconds to sing, a full rendition of Vande Mataram lasts around three minutes and 10 seconds. Referring to Tamil Nadu’s decision to precede both with the State Song, he asked whether audiences could realistically be expected to stand respectfully for nearly six minutes before and after every function.
“Do we really expect audiences to stand still and respectfully for six minutes before and after every function, a total of 12 extra minutes? Can respect and patience be legislated?” he wrote.
The Congress leader said he feared that the legislation’s intended objective of promoting greater respect for the National Song might not be achieved and could instead produce the opposite effect.
President Droupadi Murmu recently gave assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends to Vande Mataram the same statutory protection currently available to the National Anthem.
The legislation, passed by Parliament last month, makes intentional prevention of the singing of Vande Mataram or disruption of an assembly engaged in such singing a punishable offence. The existing law already provides similar protection to Jana Gana Mana.
Under the Act, such offences are punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. A second and subsequent conviction carries a minimum imprisonment term of one year.
Published – August 11, 2026 04:42 pm IST
