New Delhi, August 16: Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, has raised questions about Sonia Gandhi’s stance on “Vande Mataram,” accusing the Congress party of opposing its full rendition. He further alleged that all so-called political parties have deceived Muslims for electoral gains.
In an interview with a news agency, Maulana Rashidi stated, “Muslims represent the second-largest population in India. It is the responsibility of every government and opposition party to consider the sentiments of this significant demographic. The current government is neglecting these sentiments; it had introduced a bill regarding ‘Vande Mataram.’ However, the Congress party’s actions were commendable, as they had a resolution in 1937. After objections raised by Muslims, the last six lines of the song were officially removed. This was done following protests from the Muslim community.”
He noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has insisted on including those lines in the rendition of “Vande Mataram.” He emphasized that Congress has acted in this manner to appease its vote bank, aiming to satisfy Muslims and uphold the religious freedoms granted to the community in the Constitution.
On the question of whether Sonia Gandhi understands the sentiments of Islam and if Muslims felt safer under Congress rule, Maulana Rashidi replied, “Every leader, whether in the ruling party or the opposition, has the responsibility to understand the sentiments of every religion in the country. This understanding is essential for all leaders.”
He added that Prime Minister Modi also comprehends this; he has expressed a desire to see Muslim children with a Quran in one hand and a laptop in the other. “These sentiments should be present in everyone. Regarding whether Muslims were safe during Congress rule, I would say no, they were not. If they had been safe, they would have progressed, become IAS and IPS officers, secured jobs, and reached Parliament and state assemblies. However, as noted in the Sachar Committee report of 2005, Muslims were found to be in worse conditions than Dalits. So, how could they be considered safe?”
Maulana Rashidi asserted that Congress and other so-called parties have exploited Muslims, viewing them merely as a vote bank. He believes that under Congress rule, Muslims have not felt secure. He pointed out that Muslims have engaged in actions contrary to the law and Constitution, which has hindered their educational progress. However, he noted that this year, 53 Muslim children passed the UPSC exams, indicating a shift towards education.
Regarding potential changes to the law concerning “Vande Mataram” if Congress returns to power, Maulana Rashidi stated, “We believe the BJP should also consider this. As the second-largest population in the country, shouldn’t our sentiments and beliefs matter to them? They should respect our beliefs and not act solely for their vote bank. Instead, they should take our faith into account. The lines that contradict our beliefs should be removed, as the Constitution clearly states that nothing should be imposed against an individual’s religious beliefs.”
He urged the BJP to eliminate those six lines, asserting that Congress is likely to remove them as well.
BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari raised questions in a press conference about whether Rahul Gandhi is a suitable leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. He also asked if Rahul Gandhi and Congress should apologize for opposing the national anthem.
In response, Maulana Rashidi remarked that everyone is engaging in politics. “You (BJP) have politicized the inclusion of those six lines in the national anthem and promoted ‘Vande Mataram’ during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. You are politicizing it by promoting ‘Vande Mataram,’ while they (Congress) are doing so by opposing it. So, what is there to apologize for? Congress should not apologize. BJP leaders and spokespersons should also respect the leader of the opposition.”
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