A tense exchange occurred in the Supreme Court during a hearing concerning the legal requirements for singing the national song, Vande Mataram. The controversy began when S. Muralidhar, representing singer TM Krishna, presented arguments challenging the penal provisions associated with the refusal to sing the song. In response to these arguments, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta interjected, stating that the approach to law-making suggested by the petitioner's counsel should not be conducted "as per Naxalites."

The term "Naxalite" refers to a militant far-left movement in India, and its use in a judicial setting is considered highly inflammatory. While the Solicitor General framed the argument as an ideological departure from established legal norms, the remark was perceived by others in the courtroom as an attempt to delegitimize the constitutional arguments being presented. The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between government representatives and legal advocates regarding the intersection of nationalistic requirements and individual liberties. The court has yet to issue a formal ruling on the underlying petition, but the Solicitor General’s choice of language has drawn attention to the increasingly polarized nature of legal debates involving national symbols.