Amidst the ongoing controversy regarding 'Vande Mataram', a statement by Gitanjali Angmo, wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk, has sparked a new debate. Geetanjali had raised the question that people were saying that the later verses of Vande Mataram mention Hindu deities, so how can people of other religions sing it? So if a Hindu sings Sufi poetry, his religion will be corrupted. Different reactions are coming to his statement.
President of All India Imam Association, Maulana Sajid Rashidi has expressed strong objection to the statement of Geetanjali Angmo. He said, “I want to tell those people who are not aware that ghazals contain romantic couplets. There is no worship or veneration of anyone in them.
Someone just hums ghazals and they are romantic couplets. Therefore comparing it with Vande Mataram is based on wrong information and is unfortunate, regrettable and objectionable. You are comparing romantic couplets with the worship of gods and goddesses.”
Maulana Rashidi said that Muslims cannot sing it because it is against their religion. He said, “Even if not only Sonam Wangchuk's wife but also the President of the country says that Muslims should sing it, we will not sing it because it is against our religion. The Constitution of the country allows us that if something is against your religion, then whether to sing it or not is your own choice.”
On this matter, Aam Aadmi Party leader Priyanka Kakkar said that now this has become a law and everyone should respect it. He said, “You are a citizen of India, as a citizen of India it is your duty to follow the laws of India. I think the controversy should end here and all Indians should have respect for the national anthem and their national song.”
BJP spokesperson RP Singh, supporting the argument of Gitanjali Angmo, said that in Vande Mataram, Maa Durga is mentioned as a symbol of courage and destruction of enemies. He said, “Sonam Wangchuk's wife is right in saying that Vande Mataram is the name of a Hindu goddess but one also has to think about the context in which her name comes.