Dr Muralidhar Objects To Solicitor General's 'Naxalite' Remark During Vande Mataram Hearing

Senior Advocate Dr S Muralidhar raised a strong objection in the Supreme Court to the "Naxalite" remark made by Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta during the hearing of the Vande Mataram matter.Muralidhar was appearing for TM Krishna, who challenged the recent amendment to the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act giving 'National Song' the same protection as the 'National Anthem', as well as the Centre's circulars mandating the singing of the six stanzas of Vande Mataram, which include devotional hymns to deities, at official functions.Before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, Muralidhar contended that the amendment was hastily passed without building any national consensus, and without sufficient thought, as the amendment did not even define what the "National Song" was.