UP Muslims find Vande Mataram alternative; sing Sare Jahaan se aacha

Lucknow, Sep 7 (UNI) Muslims in Uttar Pradesh today found an alternative to Vande Mataram, and preferring to sing 'Sare Jahaan se aacha' instead to mark the centenary of the national song.

But in the temple city of Varanasi, burqa-clad women openly recited Vande Mataram. These women had yesterday carried out Vande Mataram Peace March in support of reciting the song.

In Moradabad, tension prevailed at the collectorate premises when BJP and some Muslim organisations raised slogan for and against singing of the national song. A heavy police presence, however, defused the situation.

BJP had organised several programmes to mark the occasion in the city.

In the state capital, Islamic Centre of India had organised a programme at Eidgah to mark the occasion. Around a hundred children from the minority community recited 'Saare jahan se aacha...' Talking to reporters, Head of the Madrasa Nizamiya Farangi Mahal Mualana Khalid Rasheed said the purpose of the programme was to show the Muslims' respect and love for India. ''While as per the Muslim Personal Law, Muslims can not sing Vande Mataram, the song was actually written to appease the Britishers,'' he added.

He maintained that since 'Sare jahan se aacha...' was non controversial, and showed respect for the country, children recited the 'quami tarana' to pray to Allah to protect India from its enemies.

The BJP and its affiliates, meanwhile, took out several processions in the capital city to mark the occasion. While some BJP activists gathered at the state unit headquarters to sing the national song, ABVP activists took out a procession from the university.

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