BJP Legislators Protest in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Over National Song

BJP legislators staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on August 22, 2026, after a confrontation inside the House disrupted the opening day of the monsoon session. The dispute began when Vipin Singh Parmar and other BJP members raised a point of order demanding that all four stanzas of the National Song, Vande Mataram, be sung, citing a recent parliamentary decision.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused the BJP of disrespecting the National Anthem during the proceedings. Parmar rejected these claims, asserting that the opposition remained respectful and that any disrespect originated from the treasury benches. He further requested the release of the full video of the session to clarify the events.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania adjourned the Assembly for the day to end the row. He maintained that the House will continue its established practice of beginning sessions with the National Anthem and concluding them with the National Song. The confrontation prevented the legislature from discussing public-interest issues on the first day of the session.