Muslim scholar Maulana Haleem Ullah Qasmi, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Maharashtra, has urged the community to withdraw their children from schools following Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive to make singing ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory in all educational institutions. Addressing an event in Gorakhpur, CM Yogi said the measure aimed to foster patriotism and respect for the national song.

In reaction, Qasmi emphasized that the Constitution guarantees the freedom to practice one’s religion, warning that any compulsion against Islamic beliefs is unacceptable. He stated that Muslim children would not participate in singing ‘Vande Mataram’ and called on parents to keep their children out of schools if the government enforces the directive.

Qasmi condemned the measure as an attempt to “torment Muslims” and recalled a similar mandate on Surya Namaskar, when Maulana Ali Miyan Nadwi had urged withdrawal of children from schools to protect religious faith. “Our religion teaches worship of only one Allah. We will not comply with anything that contradicts our faith. The children should remain uneducated rather than lose their faith,” Qasmi said. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)