A heated argument unfolded in the Indore Municipal Corporation on Wednesday after Congress councillor Fauzia Sheikh Alim refused to sing the national song Vande Mataram amidst the budget discussion session, stating that it goes against her religious beliefs.
Soon the situation escalated as ruling BJP councillors rushed to the chairman’s podium, raising slogans in protest. Ahead of this, the chairman, Munnalal Yadav, directed congress councillors to leave the House as the uproar escalated. Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Councillor Alim stated that her religion does not permit her to sing Vande Mataram, meaning “I bow to thee, Mother.” Asserting her constitutional rights to religious freedom, she said no one could force her to sing it.
“My religion does not allow me to sing Vande Mataram,” she said. “The Constitution guarantees me the right to religious freedom. No one can force me to sing it,” she added.
“Had I been there, I, too, would not have sung it, as it goes against my religious beliefs. I would have stood there respectfully and upheld the law.” She told IANS.
Adding that she respects the national song, she said she had joined the meeting to highlight the pressing issue of contaminated drinking water. Alim further alleged that BJP councillors raised the demand to sing Vande Mataram to distract from the cause. Meanwhile, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava labelled the refusal as “unfortunate” and said that Alim intentionally comes late to the meeting in order to avoid her participation in the mass singing of the national song.
Describing the incident as an insult, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Santosh Sharma said, “If they (the councillors) consider India as their country, then what might be the problem in singing the national song?”
However, Congress’s leader of opposition, Chintu Chouksey, labelled it as Alim’s “personal opinion.” He also highlighted that Vande Mataram is ingrained in every citizen of India and should be made mandatory.
“Vande Mataram is ingrained in every citizen of India. Singing the national song should be mandatory for every citizen,” he said.
Talking to IANS about Alim’s refusal to sing ‘Vande Mataram,’ Minister Sanjay Nishad said, “…A country is governed by democracy, not by Sharia. Such people should be declared traitors.”
Meanwhile, Congress leader Udit Raj said, “It should be kept voluntary; ‘Vande Mataram’ should not be imposed. Even if she were to sing ‘Vande Mataram,’ what exactly would be the difficulty? “Vande Mataram must not be forced upon anyone.”
