'Stop politicisation of Vande Mataram issue'

New Delhi, Aug 24: Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today asked communal forces to desist from politicisation of 'Vande Mataram'.

Mr Jaiswal told reporters here that the manner in which the communal forces are trying to politicise Vande Matram issue was not right. Vande Matram is the national song on which played a crucial role in the freedom struggle and no Indian of any religion has any reservation against it.

''Only there is a technical problem that under Islam, except 'almighty Khuda' people are not allowed to pay obesiance to anyone be it their own mother. It does not mean that Muslims do not respect their mother, they just do not touch the feet of their mothers,'' Mr Jaiswal said.

Asserting that Muslims are as patriotic as people of any other religion, he said that they have also contributed equally to the freedom struggle and made sacrifices. However, since under Islam, people are not allowed to bow to anyone except Almighty Khuda so technically they could not sing Vande Mataram, he added.

Mr Jaiswal said that some politicians are trying to take advantage of this situation and urged Indians not to get swayed by their false propoganda.

UNI