India Gives 'Vande Mataram' Same Status as National Anthem

A historic decision was taken on Tuesday in the first meeting of the Modi cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the landslide victory in West Bengal. A proposal was approved to give the national song'Vande Mataram'the same status as the national anthem'Jana Gana Mana'in ID1. The ministers present in the meeting congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic victory of the BJP in Bengal. The government has accepted the proposal to amend the'Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act '. Once the amendment is implemented, the same rules and restrictions will apply to'Vande Mataram'composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, which is now the national anthem. Its violation will be considered a cognizable offence. Under the current law, intentional insult to the national flag, the constitution or the national anthem is punishable with jail, fine or both. After the proposed change,'Vande Mataram'will also be included in the same ambit and it has been said that the country is currently celebrating the 150th anniversary of the song. Under the current law, anyone who obstructs the singing of the national anthem again, will be jailed for three years or less than one offence.