Govt plans bill to punish those who insult, block Vande Mataram singing

NEW DELHI: A bill providing for punishment for any insult or obstruction to singing of Vande Mataram will be introduced in Lok Sabha in Parliament's session starting July 20. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet earlier, comes after guidelines issued by the home ministry made playing or singing the national song mandatory at official events where national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' is played.Bills listed for introduction in LS include one making the delayed registration of birth and death stringent.Once the prevention of insults to national honour bill is cleared by both LS and RS, the law will make insulting the national song a punishable offence, bringing it among the other high symbols of the republic, like the national anthem; the national flag; and the Constitution, whose insult attracts criminal action.BJP has maintained that past 'secular' govts did not accord Vande Mataram, interwoven…