NEW DELHI: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday strongly objected to the central govt’s recent notification mandating the recitation of all six verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official functions and in schools before the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.The AIMPLB has termed the decision “unconstitutional and contrary to religious freedom” and demanded that the govt immediately withdraw the notification or else it will challenge it in the court. Both factions of prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulama -i- Hind have also raised objections to the govt’s order.Meanwhile, Left parties like CPI(M) and CPI also came forward to oppose the MHA order. CPI(M) demanded that the govt “uphold the spirit of the Constitution and immediately withdraw this order”.The CPI(M) accused the BJP-led union govt of attempting to create an “unnecessary controversy concerning the national song and the national anthem with ulterior motives” and that the “BJP govt should not be allowed to play with such historic cultural symbols.”The Left party highlighted that “the Constitution of India clearly states in Article 51A(a) that it is the duty of every citizen to respect the national flag and the national anthem. After thorough deliberation, the constituent assembly adopted the statement made by President Rajendra Prasad concerning the national song, whose two stanzas only would be sung.” “Through its recent order, the govt seeks to include the remaining four stanzas, which the constituent assembly felt did not resonate the secular character of the Indian Republic,” the party added. CPI’s Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar P accused the govt of “cynically weaponising culture to polarise the people.” “Our position is clear: for us, the country comes first; for the BJP, elections come first,” he added.Referring to the ruling party at the Centre, he alleged that “it is deeply ironic that those who had no role in the freedom struggle and remained subservient to British colonialism now claim the authority to issue certificates of nationalism.”Trinamool Congress lashed out at the govt alleging that the BJP was “Bangla-Birodhi”. “And now, in an official notification, @HMOIndia has distorted the original lyrics of Vande Mataram penned by Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in Anandamath,” the party alleged in a post on X.Elaborating on the reasons for opposition, AIMPLB general secretary, Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, alleged that the MHA order was “unconstitutional, against religious freedom and secular values, contrary to Supreme Court judgment, and directly conflicting with the religious beliefs of Muslims.”“Whatever the political considerations behind implementing this decision ahead of the West Bengal elections, Muslims cannot accept it, as it directly conflicts with their faith,” he added.Maulana Mujaddidi said that, following Rabindranath Tagore’s advice and deliberations in the Constituent Assembly, it had been agreed that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be used. He said that “a secular government cannot forcibly impose the beliefs or teachings of one religion upon followers of other religions”.He added that the song was written in the context of Bengal and contains references to the worship and veneration of Durga and other deities.“A Muslim worships only one God, Allah, without partners, and Islam does not permit any form of associating partners with God,” the AIMPLB general secretary emphasised.“Therefore, the Board demands that the Central Government immediately withdraw the notification; otherwise, the Board will challenge it in the court,” he asserted.Jamiat Ulama – i – Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani described the govt order as “biased” that he alleged was “a conspiracy to snatch the religious freedom” granted to all citizens by the Constitution of India.He further alleged that the Central govt’s order on Vande Mataram was a “unilateral and coercive decision” and that it reflects “a systematic attempt to curtail the constitutional rights of minorities”.“Muslims do not prevent anyone from singing or playing “Vande Mataram”; however, some verses of the song are based on beliefs that portray the homeland as a deity, which contradict the fundamental belief of monotheistic religions. Since a Muslim worships only one Allah, forcing him to sing this song is a clear violation of Article 25 of the Constitution and several judgments of the Supreme Court,” he added.In a statement from the Maulana Mahmood Madani-led faction of Jamiat Ulama -i- Hind faction, its general secretary Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi said, “If the majority community wishes to recite it, they are fully entitled to do so. However, making it mandatory for all citizens would amount to imposing restrictions on religious freedom,” he added.He stated that the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the inalienable right to profess, practice, and propagate his or her religion, and to live in accordance with one’s faith and conscience. “Therefore, compelling any individual to recite a specific poem or composition that conflicts with his or her religious beliefs is contrary to the spirit and provisions of the Constitution,” he said.He further stated that “India is a pluralistic and multi-religious nation where constitutional supremacy and the principle of “unity in diversity” form the foundation of national integration. Any step that weakens this foundation cannot be in the interest of the country.”“The Muslims of India hold a unanimous and unequivocal position that any decision undermining religious freedom will not be accepted. We strongly urge the Government of India to review the said circular in light of constitutional provisions, judicial precedents, and the diverse social fabric of the nation, so that religious liberty, constitutional dignity, and social harmony may be preserved,” he added.
