Vande Mataram controversy ignited by Cong, BJP: AIMWPLB

Lucknow, Sep 2 (UNI) All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) today charged Congress and BJP with delibrately igniting the controversy over Vande Mataram.

The Board maintained it would oppose ''forceful'' singing of the national songs in madarsas.

Talking to reporters here, AIMWPLB president Shaista Amber said since India was a democratic country, people should be allowed to decide whether to sing the song.

''But, we would oppose mandatory singing of Vande Mataram in madarsas,'' she said adding as per shariat, Muslims could only pray to God and no one else.

But at the same time, she slammed the Congress and BJP for creating the controversy to divert the common man's attention from basic issues such as economic development.

Ms Amber claimed organisations like BJP, RSS and VHP had no right force people into singing the song. ''They observe the death anniversary of the person who killed Gandhiji,'' she noted.

She also supported the decision of certain organisations to close madrasas on September 7, when the national song would be sung in all educational institutions.

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