New Delhi, July 30 -- The passage of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha drew sharply divided reactions on Thursday, with IUML MP ET Mohammed Basheer accusing the government of using the legislation to "divide" the people of the nation.

The Bill, which seeks to make any obstruction or insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence, was passed after a brief discussion amid uproar by the opposition MPs on the Ram Mandir donation row and police action on student protestors.

Speaking to ANI outside parliament, Basheer said that the central government is attempting to undermine the National Anthem.

"This was not even there in the agenda today... This government has an ulterior mot...