Muslim members of the Meerut civic body refuse singing Vande Mataram at oath-taking ceremony

Clash erupted between BJP and AIMIM members

Representational image

Meerut (UP) – During the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of the Meerut civic body, AIMIM members refused to sing and stand for the Vande Mataram song. When the BJP members opposed, a clash erupted between the BJP and the AIMIM members. The Police intervened and sent all the members outside. The programme was organised at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose auditorium of the Chaudhary Charan Singh University.

The oath was to be administered to the elected Mayor and the corporators by Municipal Commissioner J Selva Kumari. The clash erupted when AIMIM members said, “We will say Bharat Jindabad but not Vande Mataram. This is the corporation’s programme and not a BJP programme”.

(Credit : Kadak)

Editorial Viewpoint

The Indian patriot community expects the Union government to declare the ‘Vande Mataram’ song equivalent to the national anthem. Singing this song should be mandatory. Those refusing to sing it should be charged with treason and punished.