Jamaiti-Islami Hind says no to 'Vande Mataram'

Jaipur, Aug 28: Controversy is brewing up over the Rajasthan government's directive to all educational institutions to render 'Vande Mataram' on September seven with opposition from some quarters.

The song is being directed to be sung on September 7 around 1100 hrs in all educational institutes on completion of a century of the writing of the song by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

The Jamaiti-Islami-Hind in the state will be opposing the singing of the patriotic song in its madarsas if its singing is made compulsory.

Dr Salim Engineer, state president, Jamaiti-Islami-Hind told sources, ''We will oppose the singing of Vande Mataram in madarsas as we believe it is against Islam to offer prayers to anybody other than Allah. This move is against our faith and religion. A true Muslim can only pray to Allah. If the order is made compulsory in madarsas, we will oppose it peacefully and constitutionally. If the order is to test our patriotism, the move is wrong and misleading.''

The principal secretary, education, Dr C K Mathew said the order is not compulsory although the state government will see that it is followed by all educational institutions.

The ruling BJP is of the view that 'Vande Mataram' is a national patriotic song and there should be no hesitation in rendering it by any institution irrespective of its religious affiliations.

UNI

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