Sanjay Raut Accuses PM Modi of Insulting Vande Mataram

Raut challenged the Prime Minister's patriotic credentials during a press briefing in Mumbai, asserting that if the government convenes a special session to protect the national song, the head of state has a duty to be present. He suggested that the Prime Minister and Home Minister should face legal scrutiny for their perceived disregard for the legislation they championed. The bill, which passed both houses of Parliament by voice vote, grants Vande Mataram statutory protections similar to those afforded to the National Anthem.

The debate surrounding the legislation remains polarized. DMK MP Kanimozhi voiced strong opposition in the Lok Sabha, characterizing the bill as an attempt to impose a specific ideological agenda under the mantle of nationalism. She argued that such laws conflict with the country’s secular framework. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai countered these claims, maintaining that the legislation serves to bolster Indian pride rather than target regional identities. Beyond the legislative clash, Raut also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah over persistent security failures in Jammu and Kashmir, citing the recent killings in Kulgam as evidence that the current administration is failing to maintain order in the region.