Vande Mataram controversy now erupts in Maharashtra

The issue of the Madras High Court asking Vande Mataram to be sung mandatorily in all Tamil Nadu schools and a Mumbai BJP MLA’s suggestion to the Maharashtra government to make it mandatory in the state has led to angry reactions from the Samajwadi Party and the All India Majlis e Ittehad-Ul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Mumbai BJP MLA Raj Purohit suggestion that Maharashtra should also have Vande Mataram sung in schools has led to the Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi claiming that ‘they are ready to be removed from the country’ but not sing Vande Mataram." They( BJP) are bringing this issue repeatedly, true Muslims will not be singing this song, this is against our religion.”said Azmi.

AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan also said that it was against their religion for the song to be sung. “You could hold a gun to our head but we won’t sing Vande Mataram. The constitution gives us a right to practice our religion and in our religion prohibits from singing that song. So we won’t sing it even if we are forced.”said Pathan.

Reacting to Azmi and Pathan’s remarks Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Diwakar Raote from the Shiv Sena said that this proved that the two ‘have Pakistan in their hearts’. “ If they want to leave the country they are free to go.”said Raote.

BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari called the statements by the two troubling. “ It is such talk that leads to ISIS and led to the partition of the country. I believe that they are talking about leaving the country, if that is the case then they can leave no one is forcing them to stay.”said Bhandari.