AFTER VANDE Mataram, a fresh controversy is in the offing.
On Monday, litterateur Mudrarakshas and former Member of Parliament (MP), Aas Mohammad while reiterating that Muslims were opposed to singing Vande Mataram added that the national anthem was written in praise of the British rulers and had nothing to do with patriotism.
“Muslims are ready to offer any sacrifice for the country but would not sing Vande Mataram at any cost,” they said while talking to newspersons.
Charging the Congress and the BJP with raking up the controversy, they said that it was an attempt to deflect attention from pressing problems like poverty.
In the presence of Mufti Mohd Ashraf Farooqui from Deoband, the litterateur and the politician said Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, who worked as deputy collector in the Raj era, penned Vande Mataram in praise of Hindu Goddesses.
“Jana Gana Mana too was written in praise of George V. Hence, the national anthem should also be suitably modified,” they said.
Mudrarakshas said instead of forcing Muslims to sing these songs, the policy makers should think of changing them. “BJP says all Muslims not singing Vande Mataram are traitors. But Bharat Ratna Maulana Azad never sang Vande Mataram. Was he any less patriotic?” he asked. Aas Mohammad, who is also the president of Iqbal Forum, said that patriots like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad sang ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’ proudly instead of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana. So, should they be declared as traitors?”