New Delhi, February 12 The All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday termed the Centre's directive to sing all six verses of the national song "Vande Mataram" as "unconstitutional", and said it would move court if the government does not withdraw the order.
The statement came after the Union Home Ministry directed that all six verses of "Vande Mataram", written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, should be sung first when the national song and national anthem "Jan Gana Mana" are to be played together.
In an order dated January 28, the home ministry provided the first set of protocols for singing the national song, directing that six verses of it, which have a duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds, should be sung at official functions such as the arrival of the President, unfurling of the tricolour, and speeches of governors.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) strongly objected to the Central government's order and described the decision as "unconstitutional and contrary to religious freedom".
In a press statement, the board's General Secretary, Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, expressed strong opposition to the government's decision, terming it unconstitutional, against religious freedom and secular values, contrary to the Supreme Court judgment, and in direct conflict with the religious beliefs of Muslims.
The decision is therefore completely unacceptable to Muslims, he said.
Mujaddidi pointed out that following Rabindranath Tagore's advice and deliberations in the Constituent Assembly, it had been agreed that only the first two verses of "Vande Mataram" would be used.
A secular government cannot forcibly impose the beliefs or teachings of one faith upon followers of other religions, he said.
The AIMPLB general secretary said the song was written in the context of Bengal and contains references to the worship and veneration of Durga and other deities.
Whatever the political considerations were behind implementing this decision of the Centre ahead of the West Bengal elections, Muslims cannot accept it, as it is in direct conflict with their faith, he said.
"A Muslim worships only one God, Allah, without any associate, and Islam does not permit any form of associating partners with God," Mujaddidi said.
He further said that Indian courts have also held that the other verses are inconsistent with secular values and have restricted their recitation. Therefore, the board demands that the Central government immediately withdraw the notification; otherwise, the Board will challenge it in the court, Mujaddidi added.
