New Delhi, May 7: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly opposed the central government’s recent decision to grant ‘Vande Mataram’ the same status as the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’. This decision mandates the recitation of all six verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ before the national anthem in all government and educational institutions. The board claims this move directly violates the fundamental spirit of the Indian Constitution, religious freedom, secular values, and the historical resolutions of the Constituent Assembly. They have demanded the government to revoke this decision immediately.
AIMPLB’s national spokesperson, Dr. SQR Ilyas, stated in a press release that the cabinet’s decision is not only unconstitutional and undemocratic but also goes against the country’s religious and cultural diversity as well as constitutional values. He emphasized that a secular state cannot impose the religious beliefs of one community on all citizens. Many verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ praise deities like Durga, which contradicts the Islamic principle of Tawhid (the oneness of God). Islam permits the worship of Allah alone, who has no partners, and does not accept any form of shirk (associating partners with God).
Dr. Ilyas further noted that in 1937, upon the advice of Rabindranath Tagore, the Congress decided that only the first two verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ should be used, as the later verses were of a religious nature and not acceptable to all sections of society. Keeping this in mind, the Constituent Assembly also accepted only the first two verses as the national song in 1950. Therefore, making all six verses mandatory is not only a deviation from historical consensus but also a dangerous and provocative step.
He added that the unity and integrity of the country cannot be strengthened through force, coercive uniformity, or religious majoritarianism, but only through adherence to the Constitution, mutual respect, and the protection of religious freedom. The government should avoid politicizing sensitive religious issues and refrain from decisions that undermine communal harmony and national unity.
The board clarified that if the government does not withdraw this decision immediately, the AIMPLB will be compelled to challenge it in court.
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