Christian Forum Seeks Reversion to Earlier Vande Mataram

: Andhra Pradesh Christian Leaders Forum (APCLF) on Tuesday underlined that the Christian community respects Vande Mataram as a patriotic song. However, he recently expressed his opposition to the central government-mandated six-stanza and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada, APCLF state president Oliver Rayi said Christians had never objected to the singing of Vande Mataram, which was earlier decided by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and poet Rabindranath Tagore.

He noted that only two continents had been formed before. He claimed that the newly added four stanzas contained references to Goddess Durga, which undermined Christian beliefs and sentiments.

“India is a secular nation and a confluence of different cultures, traditions, castes and religions. Imposition of religious content in educational institutions is unacceptable,” the APCLF president said.

In this context, Vande Mataram recalled the observation of the Supreme Court that chanting cannot be made compulsory and should remain a matter of individual choice.

Rev. Arul Arusu, APCLF secretary, alleged that minority rights and religious freedoms were being undermined. State coordinator Nellapati Samuel claimed that Vande Mataram’s additional stanzas brought sectarian overtones.

Among those present at the press conference were many church and Christian organization leaders.