‘Sectarian agenda’: Ulama India chief criticizes govt’s mandate for Vande Mataram News India

New Delhi: Chairman Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Arshad Madani on Thursday strongly criticized the federal government’s decision to compose all six stanzas of the national anthem.van der matalan” is a compulsory subject in schools, universities and official offices, saying it reflects “electoral politics and sectarian agendas”.Madani said in a post onHe added that the move went against the fundamental beliefs of the monotheistic religion and “forcing” Muslims to sing the song was a clear violation of Article 25 of the Constitution.“Muslims do not prevent anyone from singing or playing ‘Vande Mataram’; however, certain verses of the song are based on the belief that portrays the motherland as a god, which contradicts the fundamental beliefs of monotheistic religions. Since Muslims worship only one Allah, forcing him to sing this song is a clear violation of Article 25 of the Constitution and several judgments of the Supreme Court. Enforcing the song and trying to impose it on citizens is not a sign of patriotism; rather, it reflects electoral politics, sectarian agendas and deliberate diversion of public attention from fundamental issues,” he added.His remarks came after the Union Home Ministry directed that whenever the national anthem is played along with the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”, all six stanzas of the national anthem “Vande Mataram” composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay should be sung first.In a January 28 order, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued the first set of protocols for the singing of the national anthem, stating that all six verses of the song, which are 3 minutes and 10 seconds long, should be sung at official functions such as the arrival of the president, hoisting of the national flag and speeches by governors.The order stipulates: “When the national anthem and the national anthem are played or played, the national anthem should be played or played first.” It also stipulates that when the national anthem is played, the plenary session should stand at attention.“The audience should stand whenever the official version of the national anthem is sung or played. However, when the national anthem is played as part of a newsreel or documentary, the audience should not stand as doing so may interrupt the screening and cause confusion rather than adding to the dignity of the anthem,” it added.The directive further states that in schools, events should begin with the playing of the national anthem.The move coincides with the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.