NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start a major debate in the Lok Sabha on Monday on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.The House has set aside a full 10 hours for the discussion. Members are expecting the debate to bring out several important and lesser-known details about the national song and its journey over the past century and a half.

PM Modi will be the first speaker, and defence minister Rajnath Singh is expected to follow him. From the opposition, Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are among those listed to speak. On Tuesday, home minister Amit Shah will begin a similar discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Health minister and Leader of the House JP Nadda will speak after him.Many MPs from different parties are expected to share their views, making it one of the key discussions of the Winter session. This debate is part of the year-long national celebrations marking 150 years of Vande Mataram. The poem, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and later set to tune by Jadunath Bhattacharya, has long held a central place in India’s political and cultural history.PM Modi launched the anniversary celebrations on Sunday, saying the aim was to deepen awareness about the song among young people.