"Nothing In Islam Prevents Muslims From Chanting Vande Mataram": MPCC Vice President

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi said that he won’t chant ‘Vande Mataram’ as he is a Muslim. He stated that as per Quran a Muslim can bow his head only before Allah and no one else. He made these remarks at a debate over the recent communal riots in the legislative assembly. For these remarks made by him, Muslim activists and leaders are lashing out at him.

Vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Hussain Dalwai slammed Azmi. He also accused him of distorting the Quran. He said nothing in Quran prevents Muslims from chanting ‘Vande Mataram.’ Many Muslims do chant the national song and yet remain true to their religion, he added.

He emphasised that the Quran wants Muslims to stay loyal to their motherland. Furthermore, a devout Muslim won't engage in smuggling or any other criminal activities.

Further Dalwai questions how can someone ignore national songs as they are a part of their culture. He said, “Islam is our religion. The national song is a part of our culture. Thousands of martyrs have kissed the noose, shouted ‘Vande Mataram’, and then gone to the gallows. How can anyone ignore this sacrifice?”

Irfan Engineer, the secretary of the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism, called the assertion that Muslims are forbidden from chanting "Vande Mataram" by the Quran a distortion. He too said that loyalty to the nation is a crucial aspect of Islam.

Taking a jibe at Azmi, he said, “Those claiming otherwise are furthering their political agenda.”

He noted that in the pre-Independence period, the Muslim League misused the Quran to advance its sinister game plan. The same was being repeated now by certain political parties, who claim to be champions of Muslim interests, he added.

He says Azmi’s remarks were made in the context of upcoming elections. He alleged, “The fact is that these elements are helping the Hindu right to achieve its aim of communal polarization. Azmi’s statement is to be seen in the context of the upcoming elections.”

The well-known activist Irfan Ali Pirzade claimed that most Muslims are not against "Vande Mataram." Muslims have sung this national song both during the liberation struggle and post-1947. The Wahabis are the only ones who object to the song. Azmi is a Wahabi, he continued.

Azmi made a motion to draw attention to an incident in Aurangabad. He claimed that on March 29 "police came and dispersed teenagers who had congregated there following strong sloganeering near the Ram shrine in Aurangabad. However, 20 young people returned later and said, "Agar is desh main rehna hoga, Vande Mataram kehna hoga." "We only believe in Allah, he continued. We are unable to chant Vande Mataram because our religion forbids us from kowtowing to others," he said.