Rajya Sabha Approves Pan Masala Cess Bill Following Lower House Endorsement

The Lok Sabha on Monday continued its 10-hour debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, with members across parties participating in the discussion to highlight the song’s historical, cultural and political significance.

Parliament winter session LIVE: The Rajya Sabha on Monday adjourned its proceedings and will resume tomorrow at 11:00 am.

Vande Mataram debate live: The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed and returned the Health Security Se National Security Cess Bill to the Lok Sabha after an intense and uproarious debate.

The upper house approval comes just days after the Lok Sabha cleared the Health & National Security Cess Bill, paving the way for its final legislative passage.

Vande Mataram debate live: Defence minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the importance of protecting the sanctity of India’s electoral process during the Lok Sabha session.

He said, “The most important aspect of a healthy democracy is the sanctity of the electoral process, but continuous factors like migration, rapid urbanisation creates distortions in voter lists, raises questions on the validity of elections. This is where processes like SIR become necessary.”

Singh also warned that “some party leaders, when they lose elections or face impending defeat, question constitutional institutions.”

Vande Mataram debate live: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday addressed the interpretation of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Vande Mataram during a Lok Sabha discussion.

He said that the author’s “metaphors” were often misinterpreted, sometimes unintentionally and other times deliberately. Singh added, “This is not to say that our Muslim brothers did not understand these ‘metaphors’.”

During the Winter Session of Parliament on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke in the Lok Sabha about the historical importance of Vande Mataram. He said, “In 1906, India’s first flag was designed, and Vande Mataram was written at the centre of that flag, which was hoisted in Bengal for the first time. In August 1906, a newspaper titled Vande Mataram was also launched to raise public awareness. This was the time when Vande Mataram was not just a word, it was a feeling, a source of motivation, and a poem.”

Vande Mataram debate live: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that in independent India, both the national anthem and national song were meant to be given equal status, but Vande Mataram was sidelined.

He said that in independent India, it was decided that the national anthem and national song “would be given equal status”. Jan Gan Man, the national anthem, became part of our culture, but Vande Mataram was “treated like an extra”. Singh made the remarks during a Lok Sabha discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.

Vande Mataram debate live: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that justice was not done to Vande Mataram and that the national song had been sidelined.

Speaking in Parliament, he said, “The justice that should have been done with Vande Mataram was not done… Vande Mataram was marginalised, it was treated like an extra.”

Vande Mataram debate live: During the Winter Session of Parliament on Monday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha, saying, “Our Prime Minister Modi is no longer the same Prime Minister he once was because his confidence has started to wane. His policies are weakening the country, so what else can he do but talk about the past?”

Vande Mataram debate live: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asserted that her party prioritises the nation over political gains during a Lok Sabha debate.

She said, “You (BJP) are for the elections, we are for the country. No matter how many elections we lose, we will sit here and keep fighting you and your ideology. We will keep fighting for our country. You cannot stop us.”

Vande Mataram debate live: Priyanka Gandhi on Monday accused the government of using the ongoing debate on “Vande Mataram” to divert public attention from pressing issues.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, she said, “The government is having a debate on ‘Vande Mataram’ to distract people.”

While acknowledging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a good speech, Gandhi added, “There is one shortcoming, he is weak on facts.”

Vande Mataram Debate Live: In a strong address in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the government is trying to level more accusations against those who fought for India’s freedom and made sacrifices for the nation.

She criticised Prime Minister Modi, saying he “is not the PM he used to be,” adding that his self-confidence is decreasing and his policies are weakening the country.

Gandhi also claimed that the ongoing debate over “Vande Mataram” is a diversionary tactic to shift public attention. She said, “People of the country are not happy, they are surrounded by problems, and the government is not finding solutions to them.”

Parliament winter session LIVE: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday cited a letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru to Subhas Chandra Bose during the Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram.

She read from the letter in which Nehru stated, “there is no doubt that the present outcry on Vande Mataram is to a large extent manufactured one by the communalists, whatever we do, we cannot pander to communalists’ feelings.” Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had read the letter selectively, presenting it incompletely in his speech.

Parliament winter session LIVE: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said Vande Mataram reminds us of the history of India’s freedom struggle. Speaking in the Lok Sabha after Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a debate on the national song on its 150th anniversary, she highlighted its significance in inspiring generations during the country’s fight for independence.

Parliament winter session LIVE: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday questioned the ongoing Lok Sabha discussion on Vande Mataram, saying, “Vande Mataram is alive in every corner of the country, there can be no debate on this, but since you want a debate, we will participate.” She added, “Why are we debating the ‘national song’?”

Parliament winter session LIVE: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday criticised the BJP during the Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram, accusing the ruling party of trying to “own everything and make their own for political gain,” reported ANI news agency.

Speaking in the House, Yadav said the song’s legacy was far greater than current political narratives and emphasised that Vande Mataram belonged to India’s freedom struggle and its people, not any single party. “The people in the ruling party today want to claim everything as their own,” he added.

Parliament winter session LIVE: BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut was talking to reporters outside Parliament, when she said, “Everyone knows that Congress is anti-women, they keep using abusive words for women… Congress’s anti-women mindset is why they’ve been wiped out.”

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the BJP over its approach to freedom fighters during the ongoing Vande Mataram debate in Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata, she said, “I heard some people from the BJP say that they don’t appreciate Netaji. You don’t appreciate Netaji, Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ramohun Roy, then who do you appreciate?” reported ANI news agency.

Her remarks came as the Lok Sabha held a discussion on Vande Mataram, during which Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of repeatedly invoking Pandit Nehru in his speeches and said it was the Congress that had upheld Vande Mataram.

Parliament winter session LIVE: BJP MP Sambit Patra on Sunday accused the Congress leadership of avoiding the Lok Sabha debate on Vande Mataram, claiming the party had “betrayed” the national song.

Patra said, “PM Modi in his speech today exposed Congress’ betrayal of ‘Vande Mataram’.”

While talking to reporters outside Parliament, he added, “at the time when such an important debate on Vande Mataram was taking place in the Parliament, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were not present in the House because of the sense of guilt they had in their hearts due to the betrayal committed with Vande Mataram. They knew they would not be able to take it.”

Parliament winter session LIVE: Representing the Congress party in the Lok Sabha during the Vande Mataram debate, Congress PM Gaurav Gogoi criticised the PM for always taking Nehru’s name.

“Congress supported Vande Mataram. Congress gave importance to Vande Mataram to make it the national song of India. PM Modi takes Nehru Ji’s name and Congress’ name in every debate. Operation Sindoor – Pandit Nehru Ji’s name 14 times and Congress’s name 50 times, 75th anniversary of the Constitution – Pandit Nehru Ji’s name 10 times and Congress’s name 26 times, President’s Address in 2022 – Pandit Nehru Ji’s name 15 times, President’s Address in 2020 – Pandit Nehru Ji’s name 20 times. I want to say with utmost humility to Narendra Modi Ji and his entire system, no matter how hard you try – you won’t be able to put even a single black mark on Pandit Nehru Ji’s contributions,” said Gogoi.

Parliament winter session LIVE: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that IndiGo did not flag any concerns or issues during a meeting held on December 1.

The minister blamed the airlines’ “internal system” and defended the Flight Duty Time Limitations.

“The IndiGo crisis happened due to problems in its crew rostering and internal planning system,” Naidu said while answering a question by MP Pramod Tiwari.

Over the past week, IndiGo has cancelled over 4,500 flights since Tuesday.

Parliament winter session LIVE: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday hit out at the Centre over soaring airfares and widespread disruptions in IndiGo’s operations, alleging that the government had failed to ensure affordable air travel for the common citizen.

” Mahakumbh was the biggest congregation, and people had to buy expensive tickets to come to the Mahakumbh. After the Pahalgam terror attack, flight tickets from Srinagar became expensive. Now we are seeing that IndiGo has brought the government to its knees. What is the reason? On one hand, the governmet claimed that even a person wearing ‘Hawai Chappal’ can travel in an aeroplane, but with these ticket costs, those wearing shoes are also unable to afford it… I have heard that the Board of Directors has all BJP members…” the UP leader was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Parliament winter session LIVE: BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla launched a sharp attack on the Congress, calling on Rahul Gandhi to apologise for what he termed as “historical wrongs” committed by his family regarding Vande Mataram.

While speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said the nation would witness a “historic moment” when both Houses pay tribute to Vande Mataram, describing it as more than just a song.

“The entire nation will witness a historic moment in both Houses where a glorious tribute will be paid to Vande Mataram. It is not just a song, but a clarion call which united crores of Indians in their struggle against the British Raj, slavery, and invaders. But on the other hand, the country would like to see when Rahul Gandhi, if participating in the discussion, would begin by apologising to the country for the crime done by his family towards this song,” Poonawalla was quoted as saying.

He further alleged that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru opposed the song, calling it “communal” and promoting appeasement politics.

Parliament winter session LIVE: Continuing his attack, Gaurav Gogoi questioned the ideological lineage of the BJP, contrasting it with Congress leadership in the independence movement.

“The BJP speaks of nationalism today – but where were their political ancestors when millions fought the British? Congress leaders made sacrifices, went to jail, gave their lives. The ruling party cannot rewrite history,” he charged.

His remarks came after PM Modi linked Vande Mataram to the 1975 Emergency and accused Nehru of opposing the song.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi delivered a sharp rebuttal to the BJP during the Vande Mataram discussion, accusing the ruling party of “twisting” Bengal’s legacy. He said BJP never tried to understand Bengal.

He said Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of Vande Mataram, represented a proud cultural tradition rooted in resistance to British rule — “something the BJP has failed to learn or respect.”

“BJP sees Bengal only through the lens of polarisation. For them everything is ‘Bangladeshi’. They don’t understand who Bankim Chandra really was,” Gogoi said.