Personal Law Board declared the government’s order on Vande Mataram unconstitutional, warned of going to court

New Delhi, 12 February. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday termed the government’s order on singing all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram as ‘unconstitutional’ and warned that it would approach the court if the government does not withdraw the order.

It is noteworthy that the Union Home Ministry has directed that whenever the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are sung or played together, all six verses of the national anthem written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay should be sung first.

In the order, for the first time, the Ministry has set protocols for the singing of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’, under which all six verses of the national anthem (total duration three minutes 10 seconds) will be sung in official events like the arrival of the President, hoisting of the tricolor and speeches of the Governors. A notification in this regard was issued on January 28.

This decision is ‘unconstitutional and against religious freedom’ – AIMPLB

The Muslim Personal Law Board objected to this order of the Central Government and termed the decision as ‘unconstitutional and against religious freedom’. Board General Secretary Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujadidi said the order is unconstitutional, against religious freedom and secular values, contrary to the Supreme Court decision and in direct conflict with the religious beliefs of Muslims.

He said that therefore this decision is completely unacceptable for Muslims. According to Mujadidi, after the advice of Rabindranath Tagore and discussions in the Constituent Assembly, it was decided that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be used.

Muslims cannot accept this, it is in direct conflict with their religious beliefs.

Mujadidi said that in a secular country, the beliefs or teachings of one religion cannot be forcibly imposed on the followers of other religions. The general secretary of the board said that the song was written in the backdrop of Bengal and it mentions the worship and veneration of Durga and other deities. He said that whatever be the political reason behind this decision of the Center before the West Bengal elections, Muslims cannot accept it as it is in direct conflict with their religious beliefs.