Muslim leaders oppose UP CM’s mandate on ‘Vande Mataram,’ threaten school withdrawals

A heated political and religious debate has erupted following Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s announcement that singing "Vande Mataram" will be made compulsory in all schools and educational institutions across the state.

Speaking at the Ekta Yatra and a mass singing event in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said the move is aimed at fostering national pride and unity among students.

"There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram. We will make its singing compulsory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh so that a sense of reverence and respect is invoked in everyone towards Bharat Mata and Matrubhoomi," the CM said.

The announcement, however, sparked immediate backlash from several Muslim leaders, who argue that the directive infringes on their constitutional right to freely practice their religion.

Maulana Haleem Ullah Kasmi, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Maharashtra, criticized the move sharply and called on Muslim parents to withdraw their children from schools rather than force them to participate.

"We are Muslims. The Constitution of this country gives us the freedom to practice our religion. If anything is imposed against our faith, our Constitution does not accept it. Therefore, we will not accept any such thing that goes against our religion under any circumstances," Kasmi said.

He further emphasized that compulsory recitation of "Vande Mataram" conflicts with Islamic teachings.

"Our religion teaches us that there is only one Allah, and we will only worship Him and nothing else. If we do otherwise, we will cease to be Muslims,” Kasmi said.

“As far as the country is concerned, Muslims have never lagged in showing respect for the nation. Whatever is happening in the name of Vande Mataram is being done only to torture Muslims," Kasmi added.

The cleric warned that Muslim children would not participate in the singing and threatened to withdraw them from schools if the government enforced the directive.

"Our children will not sing Vande Mataram in schools. The government targets us through several laws. This compulsion to sing Vande Mataram is only being done to torment Muslims," he said.

Kasmi also drew parallels with an earlier controversy when the Uttar Pradesh government had mandated Surya Namaskar in schools.

"When the Uttar Pradesh government mandated Surya Namaskar in schools, Maulana Ali Miyan Nadwi had appealed to all Muslims to withdraw their children from schools,” he said.

“I am making the same appeal now. The children should remain illiterate, remain uneducated, rather than lose their faith," he added.