Bhopal, February 14 – Even as the Madhya Pradesh government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, has announced the implementation of the Union Home Ministry’s directives on the mandatory recitation of the national song – ‘Vande Mataram’ – leaders of the Muslim community, including religious figures, have strongly objected to the decision.
Religious leaders from different parts of Madhya Pradesh have started opposing the Centre’s new guidelines, calling them "unconstitutional and contrary to religious freedom." Speaking to IANS, representatives of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) echoed this sentiment.
Imam Maulana Syed Nasir Ali Nadvi of Ujjain, when asked about the recitation of ‘Vande Mataram’, stated that anyone who recites it agrees to worship the motherland. Therefore, those who believe in Islam cannot accept this. Islam does not permit the worship of anyone other than Allah.
"The national song, 'Vande Mataram', explicitly states that we worship the motherland. Therefore, Islam cannot allow us to worship anyone along with Allah, or to worship anyone other than Allah, or to include anyone in our prayer system," said Maulana Syed Nasir Ali Nadvi.
Similarly, when IANS spoke to Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadwi of Bhopal over the phone, he said, "My views are the same as those of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board."
Political representatives from the Muslim community have also opposed the Centre’s new guidelines of making the recitation of all six verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory.
Congress MLA Arif Masood, considered a strong voice of the Muslim community in Madhya Pradesh's politics, stated that the issue is not about respecting the national anthem but about religious freedom guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.
"India is a democratic country. There is no dispute about respecting 'Vande Mataram'. The concern is with certain lines that, in our view, restrict religious freedom," said Masood, who is an MLA from the Bhopal Centre Assembly constituency.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Thursday that the Centre's directive mandating the singing of all six stanzas of the national song 'Vande Mataram' at official functions is being "implemented with immediate effect."
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Ministry has decided to respectfully sing six stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' before the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'. We are implementing this in Madhya Pradesh," Chief Minister Yadav said in a statement.
