Mumbai

Former Union minister Ram Naik on Thursday welcomed the Narendra Modi government's approval of a proposal to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 in order to provide legal protection to national song 'Vande Mataram' similar to that accorded to the national anthem.

The move was necessary as the national song had not been legally treated so far as a matter of national honour despite being accorded equal status along with 'Jana Gana Mana' in the proceedings of the Constitution drafting committee, Naik, a former Uttar Pradesh governor, pointed out.

Naik, who had initiated the tradition of singing 'Vande Mataram' and Jana Gana Mana in Parliament, said, "Although the Committee that drafted the Constitution had stated in its proceedings that 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana' hold equal status, until now 'Vande Mataram' was legally not considered as a matter of national honour. As a result, some people dared to insult 'Vande Mataram' and thereby the nation itself."

In a statement, he said it was, therefore, necessary to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act so that the same rules and restrictions applicable to the national anthem would also apply to the national song.

He urged Members of Parliament to rise above political considerations and pass the proposed amendment unanimously when it is brought before Parliament for approval. The unanimous passage of the amendment would reflect the patriotism of all political parties and MPs, Naik added.

His remarks came a day after the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 to make any obstruction to the singing of 'Vande Mataram' a punishable offence. This will give 'Vande Mataram' the same statutory protection as national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.

The Act, at present, protects the national anthem, the national flag and the Constitution from any insults. As per the Act, burning, mutilating, defacing, trampling etc. of the national flag or the Constitution or intentionally causing disturbance during the singing of the national anthem can attract a prison term of up to three years or a fine of both.

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In January, the Union home ministry had directed that all six stanzas of the 'Vande Mataram', written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, shall be sung first when the national song and the national anthem are to be played together.