The Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on Monday to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, India’s national song. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the House today, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will speak at the conclusion of the discussion.
The debate will highlight the historical significance of Vande Mataram and lesser-known facts about its role in India’s freedom movement. The national song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was first published in “Bangadarshan” on November 7, 1875, and later included in his 1882 novel “Anandamath”. It was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore and was first sung by him at the 1896 Congress Session in Calcutta. Vande Mataram was first used on August 7, 1905 as a political slogan and was adopted as India’s National Song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.
The BJP-led NDA government has been allotted three hours for participation in the Lok Sabha, while a total of 10 hours has been set aside for the combined discussions in both Houses. The Rajya Sabha will take up the debate on Tuesday, December 9, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to open the discussion.
Eight Congress leaders – including Deputy LoP Gaurav Gogoi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Bimol Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Chamala Reddy and Jyotsna Mahant – will speak during the Lok Sabha debate.
The House will convene at 11 am with Question Hour, followed by ministers laying papers and reports on the Table. These include documents from the Ministries of Culture, Education, Finance, Labour and Employment, Environment, and Corporate Affairs.
Key reports presented in the Lok Sabha include the Standing Committee on Energy’s Tenth Report on the performance evaluation of solar power projects, and action-taken statements on earlier reports related to the Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy.
The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will also present its 371st Report reviewing autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Education, such as NTA, NAAC, ICHR, ICPR, ICSSR, IIAS (Shimla), and the Auroville Foundation.
Additionally, the Standing Committee on Finance will table final action-taken reports on Demands for Grants 2024-25 for the Ministries of Finance, Corporate Affairs, NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The Committee on Estimates will submit five action-taken statements covering solar parks, PMGSY, Green Highways under NHDP, Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and PM MITRA textile parks.
The special discussions on Vande Mataram are part of the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The 6th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha began on December 1 and will conclude on December 19.
(With ANI inputs)
