09-01-2006, 08:53 AM
Muslims protest over directive on `Vande Mataram'
Special Correspondent
JAIPUR: Muslim organisations in Rajasthan on Thursday registered a strong protest against the State Government's recent directive to all educational institutions to render "Vande Mataram'' compulsorily on September 7, saying the song could not be imposed on the community which believes that it is against the tenets of its religion and expresses Hindu nationalism.
A controversy has arisen in the State with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government reportedly threatening to withdraw recognition and stopping aid to schools and colleges where the orders for singing of Vande Mataram are not complied with. The State Government is yet to issue a clarification on these reports.
Representatives of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum -- an umbrella body of Muslim groups of the State -- said at a press conference here that imposition of the song, going beyond the Centre's directive making the rendition optional, formed part of the Sangh Parivar's agenda to target Muslims and label them as "traitors and anti-nationals''.
"Muslims do not need a certificate from the Sangh outfits to prove their loyalty to the nation. It is outrageous to say that only those who recite the national song are patriots,'' said Mohammed Salim, president of State unit of Jamat-e-Islami Hind, while pointing out that the Congress Working Committee had in 1937 recognised the validity of objections raised to the song and made the singing of its first two stanzas optional.
A delegation of the Muslim Forum met the State Principal Secretary, Education, C.K. Mathew, here on Wednesday seeking a clarification on the applicability of the State Government's order. Mr. Salim said Mr. Mathew did not spell out whether the singing was mandatory but denied that there would be any coercion in the execution of the directive. J.M. Khan, State president of Muslim Majlis Mushawrat and former Chairman of the State Public Service Commission, said the contents of Vande Mataram went against the Islamic doctrine of monotheism, which required Muslims to worship none other than God.
Special Correspondent
JAIPUR: Muslim organisations in Rajasthan on Thursday registered a strong protest against the State Government's recent directive to all educational institutions to render "Vande Mataram'' compulsorily on September 7, saying the song could not be imposed on the community which believes that it is against the tenets of its religion and expresses Hindu nationalism.
A controversy has arisen in the State with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government reportedly threatening to withdraw recognition and stopping aid to schools and colleges where the orders for singing of Vande Mataram are not complied with. The State Government is yet to issue a clarification on these reports.
Representatives of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum -- an umbrella body of Muslim groups of the State -- said at a press conference here that imposition of the song, going beyond the Centre's directive making the rendition optional, formed part of the Sangh Parivar's agenda to target Muslims and label them as "traitors and anti-nationals''.
"Muslims do not need a certificate from the Sangh outfits to prove their loyalty to the nation. It is outrageous to say that only those who recite the national song are patriots,'' said Mohammed Salim, president of State unit of Jamat-e-Islami Hind, while pointing out that the Congress Working Committee had in 1937 recognised the validity of objections raised to the song and made the singing of its first two stanzas optional.
A delegation of the Muslim Forum met the State Principal Secretary, Education, C.K. Mathew, here on Wednesday seeking a clarification on the applicability of the State Government's order. Mr. Salim said Mr. Mathew did not spell out whether the singing was mandatory but denied that there would be any coercion in the execution of the directive. J.M. Khan, State president of Muslim Majlis Mushawrat and former Chairman of the State Public Service Commission, said the contents of Vande Mataram went against the Islamic doctrine of monotheism, which required Muslims to worship none other than God.