West Bengal makes ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory in madrasa prayers

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has made the singing of 'Vande Mataram' at assembly prayers mandatory in all madrasas with immediate effect, according to an official order issued by the Directorate of Madrasa Education. This order comes nearly a week after the state's BJP government made singing the national song mandatory in all schools.

The order said the singing of 'Vande Mataram' will be mandatory in all government, aided and recognised madrasas across the state with immediate effect.

"I am directed to order that in supersession of all previous orders and practices, singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory in all madrasas (govt model madrasas (English medium) / recognised government-aided madrasas /approved MSKs / recognised unaided madrasas (under the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department)..."