As India prepares to mark the 80th year of Independence, a political debate has emerged over the proposed collective singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ from the Red Fort on Independence Day.
Reacting to the issue, Samajwadi Party Maharashtra president and MLA Abu Azmi said he had no objection to people singing the song but argued that those who follow Islamic religious law may have reservations about worshipping anyone other than Allah.
“Those who want to sing Vande Mataram can sing it. We have no objection. We will listen to them,” Azmi said in an interview in Mumbai.
He added, “But those who follow Sharia cannot worship anyone other than Allah. This is a religious compulsion for them. Should you force them to leave their religion?”
Azmi said people should be allowed to follow their religious beliefs without facing pressure.
“Those who live according to their religion should not have their religious sentiments hurt,” he said.
Azmi Says Parliament and Courts Can Decide
On the possibility of making the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory, Azmi said elected governments have the power to introduce laws, but such decisions can be debated in Parliament and state legislatures.
“If something is forcibly imposed on people, there are laws and there is a judiciary in the country. Ultimately, the courts will decide,” he said.
His remarks come amid discussions around Independence Day celebrations and the significance of Vande Mataram during the country’s 80th year of Independence.
‘Terrorists Must Face Strict Action’
Azmi also spoke about terrorism while referring to discussions around a United Nations Security Council report concerning the Delhi blast.
He said there should be no leniency towards people genuinely involved in terrorism, regardless of their links.
“Terrorists should be dealt with strictly, whether they are connected with Pakistan or organisations like al-Qaeda,” Azmi said. “If someone is genuinely a terrorist, strict action should be taken against them.”
He added that even the death penalty should not be opposed in cases where guilt is established.
However, Azmi warned against arrests based only on allegations. He said there had been cases in which people were arrested for alleged links with al-Qaeda or other organisations but were later released after investigators failed to establish the charges.
Referring to the Mumbai serial blast cases, he said some educated people spent years in prison before being acquitted.
“Who will give back those years of their lives?” he asked.
Azmi Accuses Centre of Targeting Muslims
On the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Bill, Azmi accused the central government of repeatedly raising issues that, according to him, target minorities.
He cited debates around triple talaq, Vande Mataram and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and alleged that such issues were being used to influence Muslim voters.
“Muslims are being targeted through these issues to get votes, while enough attention is not being given to development,” he said.
Azmi also rejected speculation that senior SP leader Azam Khan was unhappy with the party. He said Khan continues to receive respect within the organisation and that the party leadership would decide his future role.
‘Muslims Vote on Ideology, Not Religion’
Responding to questions about Muslim voters, Azmi said Muslims do not vote simply because of the religion of a candidate.
“Muslims do not vote only on the basis of religion. They look at the Constitution and the ideology of the party,” he said.
He added that the SP receives Muslim support because of its political ideology and its stated commitment to constitutional values.
Marathi Language Rule Should Give Migrants Time
Azmi also spoke about the proposed requirement for service providers such as auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to know Marathi in Maharashtra.
He said he had discussed the issue with the Chief Minister and the concerned minister and was assured that no decision would be taken that would create unnecessary difficulties for people.
Azmi said people coming to Mumbai from other cities and states to earn a livelihood may initially struggle if Marathi is made compulsory.
“If Marathi is made mandatory, they may face difficulties in the beginning,” he said. “People should be given reasonable time to learn the language.”
