Bihar's 'Vande Mataram' Row: AIMIM Threatens Protests Over Mandatory Singing Order

A political controversy has emerged in Bihar following reports that the state government has made the singing of "Vande Mataram" compulsory at government programs and educational institutions, including schools and colleges. The Bihar unit of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has strongly opposed the reported directive and has threatened statewide protests if the order is not withdrawn.

The directive is reportedly part of a broader policy that recommends singing "Vande Mataram" before the national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana," in educational institutions across the state. This move has sparked significant debate and drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties.

Bihar AIMIM president and MLA Akhtarul Iman strongly criticized the decision during a press conference in Kishanganj. He stated that the party would oppose the move "from the streets to the assembly" if the government fails to withdraw it. He compared the situation to previous directives like Surya Namaskar, which were taken back after opposition.

Iman argued that making "Vande Mataram" mandatory conflicts with the religious beliefs of many Muslims. He emphasized that Muslims believe in one God and cannot be compelled to follow other forms of veneration. He urged the government to respect constitutional values and Supreme Court rulings when framing policies related to religion and education.

Another AIMIM MLA, Sarwar Alam, also opposed the order and announced that party leaders would organize protests across Bihar. The party has additionally accused the Bihar government of neglecting Urdu language education and failing to appoint Urdu teachers in schools and colleges, despite Urdu being widely spoken in parts of the state.