Vande Mataram Divides Congress In MP
-Bhopal: The rift in the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress came to the fore on Thursday when a strong section of the party took strong exception to the decision of two Muslim corporators of the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) to stay away from the national song “Vande Mataram”, calling it un-Islamic.
The controversy erupted after two partners of IMC, Fauzia Sheikh Aleem and Rubina Iqbal, categorically refused to sing the song ‘Vande Mataram’, which the members sang to mark the beginning of the company’s budget session on Wednesday.
Ms Aleem was directed to leave the House by the speaker as she refused to comply with the request to sing the national song and challenged him to show the rule mandating the singing of the national song.
Ms. Iqbal also stayed away from singing, claiming that Islam does not allow singing and that it would not go against her religious beliefs.
However, the owner said that he respects the country and other national and patriotic songs, ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Saare Jahan Se Acha’, but will not sing ‘Vande Mataram’.
The refusal of two Muslim companies to sing “Vande Mataram” had led to protests by members of the ruling BJP in the Assembly.
The issue took a new dimension when Indore city Congress president Chintu Chouksey took up the issue on Thursday and announced that “Vande Mataram” would be sung in all the party’s meetings in the city and those who were not willing to comply with the order would not be admitted to the meetings.
However, Ms. Aleem said that she would not be much bothered if the party took any action against her in this regard.
KK Mishra, media advisor to the Pradesh Congress Committee president of Madhya Pradesh Jitu Patwari, also criticized the two companies for not singing the song “Vande Mataram”.
“To hell with those who cannot defend ‘Rashtra Dharma’ and say ‘Vande Mataram’ (Bhad Mein Jaye). They should settle in Pakistan,” he said.
He said not singing ‘Vande Mataram’ was an insult to the Muslim freedom fighters who sacrificed for the freedom of the country and also to the Indian Army.
Mr. Mishra termed it as political blackmail by Ms. Iqbal at the behest of the BJP.
Senior Congress leader Dr. Aminul Khan Suri said that any attempt to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory should be opposed.
He said patriotism cannot be imposed and such moves are against the overarching values of the party.
