Jaipur: Union health and family welfare minister JP Nadda Sunday questioned the omission of Vande Mataram, the national song, from the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act enacted 55 years ago. He said the recently passed amendment would ensure that disrespect to the national song and other national symbols would attract strict legal action.Addressing a gathering before a state-level Tiranga Yatra at Albert Hall, Nadda said the original law made insults to the Constitution, national anthem and national flag punishable offences, but did not include Vande Mataram.“Was this an oversight at the time, or was it a result of appeasement and vote-bank politics?” Nadda said, questioning the reason behind the omission. He said the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, recently passed by Rajya Sabha, had addressed the issue.Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma highlighted Rajasthan’s historical connection with the national flag, saying the tricolour hoisted on India’s first Independence Day on Aug 15, 1947, was made in Dausa, which was then part of Jaipur.
