Defence Minister Rajnath Singh momentarily lost his cool in the Lok Sabha on Monday during a high-voltage debate on Vande Mataram, sharply rebuking Opposition members who interrupted his address.

Minister’s sharp retort amid interruptions

A video from the House shows Opposition MPs repeatedly asking the minister to sit down mid-speech. Visibly angered, Singh shot back, asking, “Kaun baithanewala hai? Kaun baithayega? Kya baat kar rahe ho… baith! Yeh himmat hogayi?” His outburst triggered loud reactions from Treasury benches, with several ruling party MPs also objecting to the interruption.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla then intervened, signalling Opposition lawmakers to maintain order. Singh resumed his speech shortly after, continuing his remarks on Vande Mataram and the political controversies surrounding it.

Rajnath Singh attacks Congress over ‘Vande Mataram’ history

Speaking on the legacy of the national song, Singh accused the Congress of causing “fragmentation” of Vande Mataram due to what he termed “appeasement politics” dating back to the Nehru era.

He said justice had not been done to the national song, adding that the differential treatment between the national anthem and Vande Mataram needed reassessment. According to him, the original verses of the song and the book Anand Math had been unfairly misinterpreted and were never “anti-Islam,” but rather reflective of popular resistance against foreign rule.

PM Modi opens debate on 150 years of Vande Mataram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the Lok Sabha discussion earlier in the day, highlighting the iconic role of Vande Mataram in India’s freedom movement. He said the song was not merely a call for political independence but a “sacred war cry” against colonial oppression.

Modi criticised the Congress for its stance during the Emergency era when the song marked 100 years, claiming that democratic values were suppressed at the time. He said the current moment presented an opportunity to restore the “greatness” of Vande Mataram.

Opposition’s response

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra countered the government, alleging that the ruling party was raising the issue with electoral motives ahead of the Bengal assembly polls. She accused the Prime Minister of selectively quoting Jawaharlal Nehru and said Parliament’s time should be devoted to issues concerning citizens’ welfare.

The Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered an SLR rifle, magazines and live rounds during a coordinated search operation in Doda district, marking an important step in tightening the region’s security grid.

Arms recovered in Bhalara Forest during SOG operation

Acting on precise intelligence inputs, the SOG team launched a targeted search in the Bhalara Forest area under Police Station Thathri. The operation, conducted under the supervision of SSP Doda Sandeep Mehta, led to the recovery of one SLR rifle, two magazines and 22 live bullets.

According to the police release, this recovery is significant as it prevents the possible misuse of the weapon and ammunition by anti-social or anti-national elements. Officials said the operation once again underscores the Jammu & Kashmir Police’s commitment to maintaining peace and public safety in Doda district.

Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the weapon and identify those responsible for concealing it.

Recent security actions in the region

Earlier in November, police in Shopian carried out extensive searches across multiple locations targeting individuals linked to the banned organisation Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir, which has been banned multiple times, last faced a renewed five-year ban in 2024 for alleged separatist-linked activities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today launch a special discussion in the Lok Sabha, marking 150 years of the iconic patriotic composition ‘Vande Mataram’. The debate, spread over 10 hours, is designed to revisit the song’s historical journey, its role in the freedom struggle, and the contrasting political interpretations that surround it.

PM Modi expected to highlight the song’s legacy

The Prime Minister is likely to underscore how Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s work—first published on November 7, 1875 in Bangadarshan—became a rallying force during India’s struggle for independence.

Opposition benches are keenly observing the Prime Minister’s remarks as his recent comments on the song stirred a political argument. At an event marking the anniversary last month, he alleged that the Congress “removed important stanzas” in 1937, claiming the move weakened the essence of national unity. According to him, the decision “sowed the seeds of Partition” and divided the song.

The Congress, meanwhile, has maintained that the decision followed the advice of Rabindranath Tagore and was intended to respect the sentiments of people of different faiths.

Debate likely to get louder amid ongoing political friction

The Rajya Sabha version of the discussion will be opened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. Members of the ruling alliance have been allotted three hours in the Lok Sabha session dedicated to the debate.

The matter has already seen flashpoints ahead of the Winter Session. A reminder issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat advising MPs not to use expressions like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’ during proceedings to “maintain decorum” triggered opposition backlash, with critics alleging that the government is uncomfortable with symbols of national identity.

The Winter Session runs until December 19, and early signs indicate that discussions around ‘Vande Mataram’ may remain contentious in the days ahead.