Nationalist Muslims should condemn fanatics attacking Vande Matram

New Delhi, Aug 21: Taking a strong exception to the opposition from the fanatic elements instigating Muslim students to abstain from singing Vande Mataram, the BJP today said it was time for the nationalist Muslim leaders and intellectuals to come out against spreading of such anti-national actions in the name of religion.

BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh's statement that it was not compulsory on the part of Muslim students to sing the national song was ''very objectionable'' and it was time for Prime Minister to clarify the issue. ''It is an established practice that the Parliament starts its session with the National Anthem... Jana Gana Mana and concludes it with the National Song... Vande Mataram,'' he told mediapersons at a press briefing in Parliament House premises.

''If offering respect to the National Song was voluntary and not compulsory, the logic could be stretched to honour of the National Flag and the National Anthem,'' he said, adding that it would lead to ''an unhealthy trend and the country could not allow such anarchy.'' Claiming that even the Supreme Court had observed in its judgement on Common Civil Code that those who had reservations on the issue had given up their citizenship and chosen to go to Pakistan during partition, Prof Malhotra said that in the same manner those who have chosen to live in this secular land will have respect the National Song, Anthem and the National Flag irrespective of their religious belief.

''Action should be taken against the MPs who oppose or insult the national song,'' he said.

Noting that some Muslim clerics had blamed the media for projecting their community in a wrong manner after the Mumbai blasts, he said they should realise it was the conduct of the fundamentalists which had spoiled the image of their religion rather than somebody smearing them.

Prof Malhotra said that his party condoled the death of great shehnai maestro, nonagenarian Ustad Bismillah Khan who died at Varanasi this morning. ''He was a great exponent of Hindustani music and the government had rightly decorated him with Bharat Ratna considering his contribution to the music and culture,'' he said, adding they expressed their heartfelt condolence to Ustad's family members.

UNI