‘Why is Vande Mataram being linked with patriotism?’: SP leader Hasan as UP makes song mandatory in schools and colleges
Uttar Pradesh’s education rules just got a new twist. The state government announced that all schools and colleges will now have to sing “Vande Mataram” as part of the daily routine. The move is part of a broader push to deepen patriotic feeling among students, says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Not everyone shares that view. Samajwadi Party president S.T. Hasan said on Monday that the song’s forced inclusion is a mistake, especially because it has long been a point of contention for Muslims. “Muslims have opposed ‘Vande Mataram’ for 150 years because it praises the land as if it is divine,” Hasan told reporters. “In Islam, only Allah can be worshipped. Singing this song feels like worshipping something else, which contradicts our faith.” He added that while Muslims are ready to give their lives for India, the state should not mandate the anthem.
Adityanath defended the policy. “Let’s teach young people respect for the national song ‘Vande Mataram,’” he said at a rally in Gorakhpur. He recalled that from 1896 to 1922 Congress leaders sang the anthem at every session. He argued that the 1923 protest by Congress President Mohammad Ali Jauhar, who walked out when the song began, was one of the seeds of India’s partition. “If the Congress had embraced ‘Vande Mataram’ then the division might not have happened,” he said.
The policy change comes amid a national debate over how patriotism should be taught. Supporters claim the anthem will strengthen unity; critics argue it imposes a particular religious‑political view on students. The state will roll out the new rule over the next few months, with schools required to include the anthem in daily assemblies and classrooms.
Source: ianslive
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