Sanjay Raut, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of hypocrisy regarding the National Honour of Insult Prevention (Amendment) Bill.
The criticism highlights a growing political clash over the definition of patriotism and the expected conduct of India's top leadership during the legislative process for national symbols.
Raut targeted the Prime Minister after the bill, which aims to prevent insults to the national anthem and Vande Mataram, passed in both houses of Parliament [1]. He said that while Modi portrays himself as a great patriot, he had no role in the independence struggle [1].
Raut said that the Prime Minister called a special two-day parliamentary session specifically to discuss Vande Mataram [1]. He said that if the Prime Minister is such a patriot and introduced a bill against the insult of these symbols, it was his responsibility to remain present in the house [1].
According to Raut, the Prime Minister "insulted Vande Mataram" by skipping the parliamentary proceedings [2]. He said that 150 years have passed since the composition of Vande Mataram [1].
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader linked the absence of the Prime Minister and Home Minister during key moments of the session to a lack of genuine commitment to the symbols the bill seeks to protect [1].
“"PM Modi 'insulted Vande Mataram' by skipping Parliament"”
This confrontation underscores the strategic use of nationalism in Indian politics. By framing the Prime Minister's absence from Parliament as an 'insult' to a national symbol, Raut is attempting to use the government's own legislative priorities—the protection of national honor—to challenge the leadership's credibility and personal patriotic credentials.
