The Hindu : National : `Vande Mataram': BJP wants Arjun to explain

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Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006

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National

`Vande Mataram': BJP wants Arjun to explain

Special Correspondent

Centenary of the song is being celebrated this year

NEW DELHI: A statement reported to be made by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh that singing of the national song Vande Mataram in every school in the country was not mandatory has started a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party demanding an explanation from the Prime Minister.

This year September 7 is being celebrated as the national song year with the centenary of Vande Mataram falling on that date. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the song had played a role in the freedom movement by infusing energy into the struggle. An order was passed by the Government that in every school the national song should be sung at 11 a.m.

However, in view of ``certain objections'' from ``some quarters,'' Mr. Singh has now clarified that singing Vande Mataram was ``not mandatory," Mr. Singhvi said, while preferring not to disagree with the Minister.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson V.K. Malhotra said it was highly objectionable that some `ulemas' had issued a `fatwa' against the singing of Vande Mataram. This, he said, was an insult to the national song. ``Those who object to its singing can go,'' he said, meaning they were free to leave the country.

He felt that on September 7 the centenary should be observed in the manner in which the anniversary of the Salt Satyagraha was celebrated. Vande Mataram was one of the symbols of the freedom struggle and adopted as the national song through a parliamentary resolution.

Criticising Mr. Singh for surrendering to the ``fundamentalists," Mr. Malhotra said only those who believed in the two-nation theory — that Hindus and Muslims constitute two separate nations — can give such `fatwas.'

Mr. Malhotra added that the BJP would make this an election issue in the polls in Uttar Pradesh due in February 2007.

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