MUMBAI: A fresh controversy over the song "Vande Mataram" kicked off when BJP MLA Raj Purohit, on Thursday, told the media that he would insist the state government to introduce a policy making the singing of the song compulsory.
"I'll urge chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that the state government should adopt a policy on lines of Madras High Court to make compulsory singing of Vande Mataram," Purohit said.
Madras High Court on July 25, ordered that the song 'Vande Mataram' must be played and sung in all educational institutions at least once a week and in all other institutions including private, at least a month.
Reacting to the BJP leader's demand, state unit president of Samajawadi Party Abu Asim Azmi said that his religion did not permit him to sing the song though he personally admired the song very much. He also took a dig at the judiciary alleging that they by toeing the line of the RSS they were helping in polarization of the society.
Azmi said,“When the country was partitioned it was nowhere said that if we stayed back in India we will have to sing Vande Mataram. I don’t care whether you throw me out of the country or shoot me."
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) legislature Waris Pathan went a step ahead to say that he would not sing Vande Mataram “Even while on a gun point”.
Senior Shiv Sena leader and transport minister Diwakar Raote then termed all the leaders of minority community as "traitors" and asked them to go to Pakistan.
"If they are not ready to sing the patriotic song that is sung by our soldiers, they better leave for Pakistan," he said.