WHILE THE Mulayam Singh Yadav Government sits tight over the Central Government letter on recitation of Vande Mataram in schools on September 7, the Muslim ulema (clerics) today adopted a belligerent stand on the issue. They said it was against the principle of secularism in India.
When asked, the PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav brushed aside the issue on Sunday. However, Minister for Basic Education Kiranpal Singh said he had forwarded the file to the Chief Minister for clearance.
After Deoband directives to Muslim parents not to send their children to schools on September 7, the All-India Muslim Personal Law (Jadid) chairman Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan also made a similar appeal saying that the singing of the National Song could not be forced upon the community. Khan said the community could not bow its head before anything except ‘Allah’.
The spokesman of the All-India Muslim Personal Law (AIMPLB), Qasim Rasool Ilyas, echoing sentiments of Deoband said the community could not be compelled to sing the National Song. He said the community could not be asked to abandon its religious beliefs.
Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad however, attacked the Congress-led UPA Government for raking up an unnecessary controversy. He said now, the BJP had been trying to capitalise on it. Jawad said Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh had given an issue to the Sangh Parivar to target the Muslim community and question their patriotism. Jawad said when the Supreme Court had not made singing of the National Song compulsory, how could Vande Matram be forced upon the community.
{{/usCountry}}Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad however, attacked the Congress-led UPA Government for raking up an unnecessary controversy. He said now, the BJP had been trying to capitalise on it. Jawad said Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh had given an issue to the Sangh Parivar to target the Muslim community and question their patriotism. Jawad said when the Supreme Court had not made singing of the National Song compulsory, how could Vande Matram be forced upon the community.
{{/usCountry}}Jawad also assailed the UPA Government of following the US line on Iraq. Sharply reacting to killing of three Indian pilgrims along with 37 Pakistanis in a Baghdad explosion, Jawad demanded proper protection the Indian pilgrims. He said the US forces had been killing people in the name of “Al Qaeda and Taliban”. He said moves were afoot to push Iraq into civil war at the instance of the US. The Shia clergy also objected to the inclusion of Iran leader Ayatollah Khamenie in the list of dictator.
He said Khamenie was popular religious leader. Jawad denied that he had rejoined the People’s Democratic Front (PDF). The chairman All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) Maulana Mirza Mohd Athar has expressed concern over killing of pilgrims.