'Forcing Muslims to sing Vande Mataram affront to secular polity'

New Delhi, Sep 2 (UNI) Criticising attempts to force Muslims to sing "Vande Mataram" as ''uncivilised and an affront to the secular character of our polity'', the Indian Union Muslim League today said such a thing would not be tolerated by the community.

''Vande Mataram has been consistently and conscientiously held as idolatrous by the Muslims. It has also an anti-Muslim and objectionable background. Muslims cannot sing it,''IUML national president G M Banatwalla said in a statement.

''It is most unfortunate that instead of understanding and appreciating the Muslim position, the Sangh parivar is out to vitiate the communal atmosphere,''he said.

Mr Banatwalla said in case any attempt was made to make compulsory singing of Vande mataram a permanent feature, peaceful and legal measures were available to be thought of.

''The Supreme Court has ruled out any compulsion in the singing of the National Anthem. The court in Australia, United States and Canada have accepted the position. In India, during the Independence movement itself, Gandhiji, Pandit Nehru and others had all accepted that Muslims cannot be compelled to sing Vande Mataram,''Mr Banatwalla said.

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