Meerut Mayor makes Vande Mataram compulsory during meetings, protests erupt

Protestors are quoting a Supreme Court order that says singing of Vande Mataram is not mandatory.

The Meerut Municipal Corporation has declared that it would not let councillors unwilling to sing the patriotic song 'Vande Mataram' to attend its meetings. This led to a protest by seven corporators who cited a Supreme Court order that says singing of Vande Mataram is not mandatory.

Mayor Harikant Ahluwalia, who from BJP leader, on Tuesday passed a resolution by voice vote to make the singing mandatory for all members, said reports.

Vande Mataram is being sung in in municipal meetings since long, but the protest broke out only after the Mayor passed a resolution making it mandatory. Earlier, those unwilling to sing were allowed to leave the hall and return after it was over.

Reports say that the Meerut Municipal Corporation is also mulling a proposal to terminate the membership of those councillors who do not sing the patriotic song.

During the protest, BJP councillors are said to have shouted slogans like, "Hindustan mein rehna hai to Vande Mataram kehna hoga (If you want to live in India, you have to sing Vande Mataram)."

Seven corporators protesting against singing Vande Mataram are from a particular community and are saying that they are hurt by Mayor's decision.

OneIndia News