Vande Mataram was discussed in the Parliament, in which the atmosphere was sometimes heated and sometimes calm. During this discussion, Muslim MPs explained why they do not sing Vande Mataram. AIMIM MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi said during the debate on Vande Mataram in Parliament, “This country is mine, we will not leave it and go anywhere. If we are considering Bharat Mata as a goddess, we are bringing religion into it. The Constitution talks about loyalty to the country, not worship of any goddess. The government should not insist on it; if they do, it will be against the Constitution. Does the opposition want to make Vande Mataram a certificate of loyalty?”
Do not ask for certificate of patriotism from Muslims
Explaining the reason for Muslims not singing Vande Mataram, Owaisi said, “We do not worship our mother, we do not even worship the Quran, and there is no god in Islam except Allah. This country is mine, we will not leave it. Don’t ask us for a certificate of loyalty.”
Government is controlling Muslim identity
JKNC MP from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Agha Syed Ruhullah, accused the government in the House and said that the government is controlling Muslim identity with the weapon of nationalism. The imposition of Vande Mataram and the bulldozing action are not isolated incidents, but part of a larger political strategy. The government wants to divert attention from unemployment and inflation. Aga said that Muslims fought for the freedom of the country. Even today we can fight for freedom within the country. Don’t equate disagreement with treason.
We are Muslims by choice, not by chance – Iqra
Explaining the meaning of Vande Mataram in the House, Iqra Hasan, MP from Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, said, “We Muslims are Indians, not by chance but by choice. Imposing Vande Mataram or giving it a communal color is against the basic spirit of the song.” Citing the example of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Iqra said that following ‘Rajdharma’ he ensured that Vande Mataram was not imposed on anyone, but people sang it with respect. The country never considered us its own – Rashid
Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid said during the discussion on Vande Mataram that the country never considered him as its own. He saluted his motherland, Jammu and Kashmir. He said, “I salute my motherland for which Modi and Nehru made big promises, but did not fulfill them. India considered Kashmir as its crown, but never gave it respect.” He said that on August 5, 2019, the central government took away everything from his motherland. Here Muslims are called foreigners.
A Muslim will die, but will not commit shirk (idolatry)
The statement of Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind caused a lot of uproar. He said, “Muslims are ready to die, but not for shirk. It is one thing to love the country, it is another to worship it. Every Muslim loves his country, but will worship only Allah. We will live according to Islam, and die according to Islam.” Maulana Sajid Rashidi clearly said that the objection to the national anthem is not against the ‘country’, but against ‘making the country God’. Meanwhile, SP MP Ziaur Rehman Burke said, “The song contains words which are against our religion.”
