Mumbai BJP MLA: Make Vande Mataram mandatory in all Indian schools

Raj Purohit says the song will instil a sense of patriotism among students; will write to HRD minister Prakash Jawdekar

A day after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) passed a notice of motion making Vande Mataram compulsory in all civic schools across Mumbai, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Raj Purohit now wants the singing of the national song made compulsory across all schools in India.

BJP MLA Raj Purohit met state education minister Vindod Tawde on Friday and would be writing to the union human resource development minister Prakash Jawdekar about his demand. (HT File)

Purohit met state education minister Vinod Tawde on Friday and would be writing to the union human resource development minister Prakash Jawdekar about his demand.

He said the song will instil a sense of patriotism among students.

When asked about Muslim leaders opposing the decision, Purohit said, “The song is not against Islam. I can name thousands of Muslims who have no problem singing it.”

Sources said Tawde has asked the state officials to check the feasibility of Purohit’s proposal. Despite repeated attempts, Tawde remained unavailable for comment.

The opposition

Muslim corporators and leaders have said the word ‘Vandan’ refers to worship and a Muslim worships no other God but Allah. So making Vande Matarm mandatory in civic-schools, which includes Urdu-medium schools, is being opposed strongly.

On Friday, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Rais Shaikh, who walked out of the general body meeting, wrote to civic chief Ajoy Mehta stating that the proposal was against constitutional rights.

“The proposal was rejected by a former municipal commissioner as well, yet it was presented in the general body again,” Shaikh said. Congress corporator Sufiyan Vanu also wrote to Mehta and said the proposal must not be approved.