In New Delhi on December 8, Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, used the parliamentary debate on Vande Mataram to drive home a point: the government should prioritize real action over mere symbolism. The day’s session—united by a historic celebration of the anthem’s 150th anniversary—had placed the song’s legacy at the heart of the country’s freedom struggle. When reporters asked him about the government’s progress, Yadav declared, “It is more important to act than to just sing. The Constitution contains many directives and Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar showed the path. Where does the government stand on social justice? Where does it stand on your welfare? A ticket costing around fifty thousand rupees, what direction is the country heading in?”
He followed up with a broader appeal: “Therefore, it is more important to act than merely sing, and to understand the spirit behind it, that the country should be independent and free, and after Independence, laws should function properly, people should receive justice and social justice should be ensured. How much progress have we made towards social justice?…,” asking lawmakers to examine whether welfare policies are living up to constitutional promises amid soaring costs.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the 1975 Emergency as part of the anthem’s 150‑year commemoration, describing Vande Mataram as a banner of courage that resisted authoritarianism. As he entered the Lok Sabha, members of the treasury shouted “Vande Mataram,” underscoring the moment’s gravitas. Modi then urged the assembly to treat the discussion as a chance to instruct future generations about India’s democratic journey, noting how, during the song’s centenary, the nation endured the Emergency and patriots were imprisoned. He acknowledged that the Constitution had been “strangled” and that the era filled the benches with feelings of “shame.”
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