New Delhi: The first week of the Monsoon Session concluded amid ongoing demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The session ended in a stalemate on Friday, except for the introduction of a new bill in the Rajya Sabha.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The legislation aims to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to criminalise insulting the National Song, Vande Mataram. If passed, such an insult would attract a punishment of up to five years imprisonment.
The proceedings on Friday began with members paying homage to soldiers who lost their lives during the Kargil War, ahead of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26. However, the session was soon disrupted by Opposition MPs protesting against the NEET paper leak, leading to the adjournment of both Houses until 12 noon.
When the Houses reconvened, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged for constructive discussion, stating, “If we don’t have a discussion and keep making excuses, it sends a wrong message. I request Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to help the Congress MPs understand this. Other party MPs have expressed their willingness to debate.”
Rahul Gandhi attempted to speak after Rijiju’s remarks, but presiding officer BJP’s Jagdambika Pal said he would allow Gandhi to speak after papers were laid on the table. As Opposition MPs started shouting slogans of “istifa do” (resign), Pal adjourned proceedings until Monday.
Later, Gandhi told reporters in the Parliament complex that Rijiju’s statement aimed at encouraging discussion, but he was denied the opportunity to respond. “When I wanted to reply, the microphone was taken away from me. I was not given a chance,” Gandhi said, reiterating that the Opposition would not engage in discussions on NEET until Minister Pradhan is sacked.
In the Rajya Sabha, proceedings were also adjourned until 2 pm. When business resumed, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai proposed the introduction of ‘The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026.’
The Bill seeks to criminalise acts that intentionally prevent the singing of the National Song or cause disturbances during such events, with penalties of up to five years imprisonment, fines, or both. It also proposes to extend the same legal protections to the National Song as those currently accorded to the National Anthem.
Opposition benches protested the Bill’s introduction. However, Deputy Chairman Harivansh permitted CPI(M) MP John Brittas and CPI MP Sandosh Kumar P to speak on the Bill. Brittas highlighted that the Indian Constitution’s framers, after extensive deliberation, consciously did not equate the legal status of the National Song with that of the National Anthem, suggesting that the Bill’s provisions might not align with the constitutional intent.