Mumbai: A recent ruling of the Madras High Court asking schools in Tamil Nadu to sing India’s controversial national song led to angry reaction in the legislative assembly of Maharashtra state.
On July 28, the Samajwadi Party and the All India Majlis e Ittehad-Ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) opposed a suggestion from a BJP member to make Vande Mataram mandatory in the western Indian state.
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi claimed that that they are ready to be removed from the country but would not sing the national song, which certain groups view as an odd to the Hindu goddess Durga.
“They (BJP) are bringing this issue repeatedly, true Muslims will not be singing this song, this is against our religion,” Azmi said.
The BJP or Bharatiya Janata Party, heads the coalition governments in New Delhi and several states including Maharashtra. It is considered the political arm of the Hindu rightwing groups in the country.
AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan, a Muslim, said that it was against their religion for the song to be sung. “You could hold a gun to our head but we won’t sing Vande Mataram. The constitution gives us a right to practice our religion and in our religion prohibits from singing that song. So we won’t sing it even if we are forced,” Pathan asseted.
Reacting to Azmi and Pathan’s remarks Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Diwakar Raote from the Shiv Sena said that this proved that the two ‘have Pakistan in their hearts’. “If they want to leave the country they are free to go,” said Raote.