“Even if beheaded, we won’t sing lines on Goddess Durga or Goddess Saraswati”: Maulana Sajid Rashidi

Statement by Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, on Vande Mataram

New Delhi – After the Union Government made it mandatory to recite the national song Vande Mataram, opposition to it has emerged from Muslims. Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, has opposed singing all six verses of Vande Mataram. He stated, “We are ready to have our heads severed, but we will not sing those specific lines of the national song” (that mention Mother Durga and Mother Saraswati.)

‘Vande Mataram’ has been controversial since 1937

Speaking to a news agency, Maulana Sajid Rashidi said:

Vande Mataram has been a subject of controversy since 1937. In 1937, prominent leaders of that time, including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Hussain Ahmad Madani, wrote a letter to the Indian National Congress stating that certain lines in Vande Mataram were against the religious beliefs of the Muslim community. After this, Congress passed a resolution and removed those lines. (It was due to this very mentality of Congress that fanatical Muslims became emboldened in India and began committing anti-national acts.- Editor)

In 2016, in a judgment, the Supreme Court of India stated that even if someone does not stand during the recitation of Vande Mataram, they will not be considered anti-national. (Muslims conveniently use court judgments according to their needs. When the verdict in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi case went against Muslims, they constantly rejected it. This clearly reveals their mindset.- Editor)

The lines of the national song that address the nation as ‘Mother Durga’ and ‘Mother Saraswati’ are against our religious beliefs. Muslims can sacrifice their lives, but they cannot compromise on their religious beliefs. If anyone tries to impose such an order on us, it will not be tolerated. (Will such Muslims ever truly follow secularism ? This exposes the false narrative of ‘Hindu–Muslim brotherhood’. -Editor)

Opposition from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen as well

Waris Pathan, National Spokesperson of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, said that he respects and honours Vande Mataram; however, making it mandatory is unconstitutional. He said that the claims by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh that not reciting Vande Mataram makes someone anti-national are incorrect. He added that they recite the national anthem Jana Gana Mana willingly, and that attention has been diverted from other important issues.

Editorial Perspectives

Will such Muslims, who are ready to sacrifice their lives for religion rather than bow to the motherland, ever truly be loyal to the nation ?

Even after the creation of Pakistan for Muslims through the partition of India, since Muslims who remained in India continue to act against India’s culture, it has become necessary to make efforts to send them to Pakistan.