Redefine News

Deoband/Lucknow: Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind on Tuesday said that some of the lines of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ were against the religious principles of Islam and hence they support the decree against the song. On the other hand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), termed the move 'anti-national'.

The resolution asking Muslims not to sing the national song was passed at the national convention of the Jamiat, one of the largest groups of Muslim clerics in India, held at Darul Uloom Deoband, one the largest Muslim seminaries in South Asia, about 150 km from the national capital.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram was present at the convention, which was also attended by some Hindu priests.

BJP said Islamic organisations should desist from issuing such fatwas that are against the nation's interest.

According to BJP’s General Secretary Kalraj Mishra “We oppose the fatwa and will not tolerate such religious decrees at any cost. They are against our national values”.

'Participation of Congress ministers like Home Minister P. Chidambaram is unfortunate. It clearly reflects approach of the Congress party that it doesn't mind compromising with anti-national organisations just to appease the minority community,' said the BJP's state unit president Ramapati Ram Tripathi.

‘Congress Leaders are singing the national song since 1896, but now it's truly shocking and surprising as they themselves are supporting anti-national organisations that are against Vande Matram,' he added.
However, Muslim clerics were firm on their stand

Maulana Salman, who teaches at the Deoband seminary, said: 'We are true Muslims and true Indians. There is no doubt about that. But we no longer remain Muslims when we offer our prayers to anybody else than the Allah. Patriotism is not only about singing songs. We are and will remain Indians without singing Vande Mataram.'