Decision to make singing of Vande Mataram compulsory unconstitutional, destroying secularism: Owaisi
Owaisi has claimed that the real intention behind making singing of Vande Mataram compulsory is to promote Hindutva
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday accused the BJP-led government of spreading Hindutva and destroying secularism by making singing of Vande Mataram compulsory.
“It is a wrong decision and is unconstitutional. Vande Mataram is our National Song, but there is no act which makes it compulsory to sing, like an act which is there for the National Anthem. Just to promote Hindutva and to end secularism, these kinds of decisions are being taken,” Owaisi told news agency ANI.
Further stressing on the same, Owaisi said that rather than promoting Hindutva, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should promote ‘constitution nationalism’.
“We Muslims only worship Allah, neither we praises Mecca nor Prophet Muhammad. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t love our nation. History has witnessed that we have sacrificed everything for the country and is still ready to do it. But as per the Constitution we have been granted freedom of religion. Why are we only promoting Hindutva,” Owaisi asked.
“The real face of the BJP is being unveiled now. Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas was just a drama, there real intention was to promote Hindutva,” he added.
He also hit out at saffron party affiliate Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said secularism is the role model of India, but the Hindutva ideology of the Sangh is making it feeble.
“Secularism is the role model of India, but the Hindutva ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, M. S. Golwalkar thought and view of defined nationhood is making it weak. The people who are promoting Hindutva are destroying the secularism of this country,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a notice to make the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in all BMC run schools, despite opposition from parties like AIMIM and Samajwadi Party.
Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar said in a statement that all the BMC run schools will have to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ twice a week. The proposal will be sent to the Maharashtra Government for a final approval.
This comes after the Madras High Court had in July ordered the singing of the national song in all educational institutions at least once in a week. Subsequently, BJP leader Sandeep Patel, proposed that idea the BMC should also pass a similar order.
Earlier, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi Waris Pathan had opposed the idea of making students sing Vande Mataram in the State assembly.
Even Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has earlier asserted that one cannot be branded as a traitor just because they refuse to sing ‘Vande Mataram’.
With ANI inputs
