BJP realises there's no law to force citizens to sing national song

NEW DELHI: The BJP-ruled state governments, like in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, will not strictly enforce singing of Vande Matram in madarsas on September 7. The party leadership realises there was no law, which could force every citizen to sing the national song. The directive, according to them, has served the purpose of "bringing an emotional issue concerning nationalism into public domain. The idea was not as much of enforcing it to all citizens as revealing it to the people."

Incidentally, the BJP-proposed National Executive meeting in Dehradun is scheduled to start on September 7. The issue of Vande Mataram is sure to figure prominently in the three-day conclave. The party leaders believe that the fresh objections raised by the ulemas and Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid was a reflection "growth of Islamic fundamentalism, a phenomenon that has been seen lately worldwide".

Leader of Opposition L K Advani said, "Every county has national symbols, which are respected by their citizens. India has national flag, national anthem and national song as their national symbols. These also invoke a feeling of patriotism. Our freedom fighters took to the gallows during colonial rule chanting Vande Mantram."

On the Human Resouce Minister Arjun Singh's statement that singing of Vande Matram on the day centenary celebrations of Vande Matram concludes was optional, Advani said, "It's like saying respecting the national flag should be made optional. Our constitution too is a national symbol, can one say that the ministers and officials who take oath in the name of the constitution be made optional if one had any objections to it. At a time when fissiparous tendencies are rising there is a need to strengthen our national symbols."