A fresh political and religious storm broke out after Uttar Pradesh's Hindutva Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, announced that reciting ‘Vande Mataram’ would be compulsory in all schools and colleges across the state. Speaking in Gorakhpur, Yogi declared that every student must sing the national song as a gesture of respect for the motherland. He claimed that the move was aimed at fostering patriotism and unity among the youth. 

However, the directive immediately sparked outrage among several Muslim leaders and scholars, who view the compulsion as a violation of religious freedom. Maulana Haleem Ullah Qasmi, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Maharashtra, condemned the order and urged Muslim parents to pull their children out of schools if such practices were enforced. “The Constitution of India guarantees us the right to practice our faith freely,” Qasmi said. “Anything that conflicts with our religious beliefs cannot be accepted.

Islam teaches us that only Allah deserves worship, singing or venerating anything else contradicts our faith.” He further criticized the move, stating that it was not about promoting national unity, but rather an attempt to "pressure and provoke" the Muslim community. “Muslims have always shown loyalty and respect for the nation. This is simply being used to target us,” he said. The debate over Vande Mataram’s recitation has long been contentious.

Muslims refrain from singing it due to its association with idol worship. The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that citizens cannot be forced to sing patriotic songs against their conscience. As of now, no official notification detailing how the directive will be enforced has been issued, but Yogi’s statement has already ignited a heated debate over faith, patriotism, and constitutional rights. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)