08-22-2006, 02:28 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>BJP seeks PM's clarification </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
The BJP is planning to seek clarifications from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament on Tuesday whether the national song Vande Mataram is of any importance for the current regime.
"The opposition to the recital of the national song on September 7 to mark the centenary of its adoption is rooted in the two-nation theory that is being propped up overtly and covertly by the Muslim fundamentalists. It is an act of sedition. Vande Mataram has nothing to do with any religion, but the religion of nationalism," deputy leader of BJP in the Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra said on Monday.
Seeking action against Members of Parliament opposed to reciting the national song, Malhotra said that their behaviour was an abetment to the anti-national forces. "How could a Member of Parliament say that he is against reciting the national song or anthem, when it is enshrined in the Constitution," he asked.
<b>Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM and Iliyas Azmi of the Bahujan Samaj Party have reportedly opposed the imposition of Vande Mataram on schoolchildren on September 7, saying that the song has religious connotations that go against the tenets of Islam</b>.
<b>Approving party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's assertion that those opposed to reciting the national song should leave the country</b>, Malhotra said that <b>such people were free to go anywhere or any country of their choice. "They cannot be allowed to humiliate the nation by being in India. As the citizens of a nation, they need to follow certain established norms, depicting the country's fervour of nationalism," </b>he said.
In order to buttress his point, Malhotra said that Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana had been adopted by the Constitution as the national song and anthem respectively. "Vande Mataram has been recited at all Congress conventions during the freedom movement struggle. It is recited in Parliament too," Malhotra said.
The BJP has accused HRD Minister Arjun Singh of bending before the fundamentalists to humiliate the nation. <b>"The nation and nationalism have to be placed above everything. By making the recital of the national song only voluntary on September 7, Singh has proved that he has softened his stand on such an important issue of nationalism," </b>Malhotra said.
BJP leader said that Muslim intellectuals and nationalists should come forward and give a befitting reply to the fundamentalists bringing bad name to the community.<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'> "Ulemmas are out in the open to threaten the country's peace, prosperity and integrity. Instead of blaming the media for the negative image that Muslims have acquired in the country, the intellectuals in the community should rise to the occasion in the country's interests," </span>Malhotra added.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
The BJP is planning to seek clarifications from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament on Tuesday whether the national song Vande Mataram is of any importance for the current regime.
"The opposition to the recital of the national song on September 7 to mark the centenary of its adoption is rooted in the two-nation theory that is being propped up overtly and covertly by the Muslim fundamentalists. It is an act of sedition. Vande Mataram has nothing to do with any religion, but the religion of nationalism," deputy leader of BJP in the Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra said on Monday.
Seeking action against Members of Parliament opposed to reciting the national song, Malhotra said that their behaviour was an abetment to the anti-national forces. "How could a Member of Parliament say that he is against reciting the national song or anthem, when it is enshrined in the Constitution," he asked.
<b>Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM and Iliyas Azmi of the Bahujan Samaj Party have reportedly opposed the imposition of Vande Mataram on schoolchildren on September 7, saying that the song has religious connotations that go against the tenets of Islam</b>.
<b>Approving party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's assertion that those opposed to reciting the national song should leave the country</b>, Malhotra said that <b>such people were free to go anywhere or any country of their choice. "They cannot be allowed to humiliate the nation by being in India. As the citizens of a nation, they need to follow certain established norms, depicting the country's fervour of nationalism," </b>he said.
In order to buttress his point, Malhotra said that Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana had been adopted by the Constitution as the national song and anthem respectively. "Vande Mataram has been recited at all Congress conventions during the freedom movement struggle. It is recited in Parliament too," Malhotra said.
The BJP has accused HRD Minister Arjun Singh of bending before the fundamentalists to humiliate the nation. <b>"The nation and nationalism have to be placed above everything. By making the recital of the national song only voluntary on September 7, Singh has proved that he has softened his stand on such an important issue of nationalism," </b>Malhotra said.
BJP leader said that Muslim intellectuals and nationalists should come forward and give a befitting reply to the fundamentalists bringing bad name to the community.<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'> "Ulemmas are out in the open to threaten the country's peace, prosperity and integrity. Instead of blaming the media for the negative image that Muslims have acquired in the country, the intellectuals in the community should rise to the occasion in the country's interests," </span>Malhotra added.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->