New Delhi, May 22: Leaders of various Muslim organizations have reacted strongly to the West Bengal government’s decision to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory in madrasas.
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, expressed his concerns, stating, “Since Suvendu Adhikari assumed office as Chief Minister of Bengal, there have been continuous attempts to create controversies. Madrasas in Bengal are being targeted, similar to Assam, by making ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory. I do not oppose anyone who wishes to sing it, but pressure should not be applied on those who do not want to.”
Dr. Umar Ahmad Ilyasi, chief imam of the All India Imam Organization, remarked that both ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Madre Watan Zindabad’ express patriotism and celebrate India. He noted, “In Islam, worship is only for God. Therefore, some prefer to say ‘Madre Watan Zindabad’ instead of ‘Vande Mataram’. The sentiment is the same; it is a national song, and there should be no politics surrounding this issue.”
Dr. Ilyasi supported Yogi Adityanath’s comments regarding prayers, stating, “Prayer is an act of worship between God and the believer, and it belongs in a mosque, not on the street. If the administration does not permit prayers on the street, they cannot be conducted there.”
He welcomed the demand to declare the cow as the national animal, saying, “It is commendable that the Muslim community is advocating for the cow to be recognized as the national animal. The All India Imam Organization has been voicing this for years. The cow is not just an animal; it is vital for the world. It holds religious significance for Hindus. I urge all Muslims not to sacrifice banned animals.”
Maulana Sufiyan Nizami, spokesperson for Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal, vehemently opposed the West Bengal government’s decision, stating, “We strongly oppose the mandate that requires ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung in madrasas and all schools. We urge Muslims to avoid enrolling their children in institutions where this is enforced.”
Waris Pathan, national spokesperson for AIMIM, stated, “We respect ‘Vande Mataram’ and view it with great reverence, but Article 25 of the Constitution grants us the right to freely practice and propagate our religion. If there are lines in ‘Vande Mataram’ that Islam does not permit, we must address that.”
In response to the government’s decision, BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh remarked, “Whether in schools or madrasas, ‘Vande Mataram’ is our national song. It evokes a spirit of patriotism.”
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