As the government introduces the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Parliament, a senior journalist has been caught spreading a blatant falsehood about its provisions.
Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Hindu, claimed on social media that the Bill would impose “3 years jail for not singing the national song.”
This is demonstrably false. The Bill punishes intentional insult, prevention, or disturbance of the singing of Vande Mataram, not the mere act of ‘not singing it’ as claimed by Haider.
What the Bill Actually Says
The proposed legislation amends Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The text states, as reported in Times of India, “Whoever, intentionally (a) prevents the singing of the National Anthem or the National Song; or (b) causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.”
The Bill extends to Vande Mataram the same legal protection already accorded to Jana Gana Mana under existing law. It does not require every citizen to sing the national song.
The offence is action against the singing, not silence.
A Deliberate Distortion?
Haidar’s framing, “3 years jail for not singing”, is either a spectacular failure of reading comprehension or a deliberate distortion – it looks more like the latter given that she is a seasoned ‘journalist’. The Bill’s statement of objects and reasons explicitly cites the Constituent Assembly’s 24 January 1950 resolution, where President Rajendra Prasad declared that Vande Mataram “shall be honoured equally with Jana-Gana-Mana and shall have equal status with it.”
The legislation aims to prevent insults, not compel vocal cords. The penalty applies only when someone intentionally prevents or disturbs the singing of the national song, the same standard applied to the national anthem for decades.
Haidar’s Troubling Track Record
This is not the first time Haidar has been caught peddling misinformation.
Modi-Trump Call (2025): When the Ministry of External Affairs issued a readout of the Prime Minister’s conversation with former US President Donald Trump, Haidar falsely claimed that the readout was published “only in Hindi” to conceal details from the international community. In reality, the English translation was uploaded on the MEA website the very same day – a fact easily verifiable with a simple visit to the official portal.
Pahalgam Attack Coverage: During her coverage of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Haidar persistently used the sanitised term “Pahalgam strike” instead of “terror attack” – language that mirrored the editorial line of Pakistani propaganda outlet Dawn. Her choice of words downplayed the nature of the assault on Indian civilians and drew sharp rebuke from security analysts.
Ravi Nair Conviction: When ‘activist’ Ravi Nair was convicted by a court, Haidar framed the verdict as a “journalist being jailed for writing a story,” presenting it as an assault on press freedom. The court’s ruling, however, was based on Nair having made proven false and defamatory statements and the conviction was for the falsity of the claims, not for the act of journalism itself.
Jaishankar Speech (2020): Haidar claimed that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had taken personal credit for all foreign policy achievements since 2014 during a public address. Those present at the event, including multiple journalists, confirmed that Jaishankar made no such assertion, the claim was entirely manufactured.
Given this pattern of distortion, Haidar’s latest misrepresentation of the Vande Mataram Bill appears less like an honest error and more like a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
2025 Tibet Coverage: The Hindu’s Tibet coverage drew attention after Haidar highlighted China’s infrastructure and development in Lhasa during a media visit en route to the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra and used the Chinese government’s nomenclature “Xizang Autonomous Region” for Tibet. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing amplified the video on X, inviting viewers to “witness the development of Lhasa in Xizang Autonomous Region, China,” while crediting Haidar and The Hindu. The endorsement aligned completely with Beijing’s narrative on Tibet.
In conclusion, you will not go to jail for not singing Vande Mataram. The Bill criminalises intentional obstruction, insult, or disruption of its singing – the same standard that has applied to the national anthem for over 50 years. Haidar’s claim is a lie. She either misread the Bill, or she chose to mislead. Given her history, the latter seems more likely.
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