‘Direct Infringement’: Muslim Board Opposes Mandatory Vande Mataram In West Bengal Schools, Demands Exemption For Muslims

With the BJP government in West Bengal making the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory in school morning assemblies, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Tuesday claimed the move was a "direct infringement" of Muslims' constitutional freedoms and demanded its withdrawal or exemption for students from the community.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said the decision is not only contrary to the spirit of the Constitution but also inconsistent with India's secular and democratic traditions.Last month, the West Bengal government made the singing of 'Vande Mataram' mandatory in morning assemblies across all state-run and state-aided schools with immediate effect. The state government also made the singing of 'Vande Mataram' at assembly prayers compulsory in all madrassas with immediate effect.

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In a statement, the AIMPLB expressed deep concern over the decision to make the recitation of all stanzas of Vande Mataram compulsory in government schools and government-recognised madrasas across the state.
The board demanded that the notification be withdrawn immediately or, at the very least, that Muslim students be exempted from its application.

Board's spokesperson S Q R Ilyas said that compelling any student to recite a song or a text that is contrary to his or her religious beliefs constitutes a clear violation of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, particularly Articles 19, 25, and 28(3).

He further stated that such a directive is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's landmark judgment in Bijoe Emmanuel versus State of Kerala, wherein the Court categorically held that no citizen can be compelled to participate in a national or religious ceremony in violation of sincerely held religious or conscientious beliefs. Ilyas said the Muslim Personal Law Board considers it necessary to clarify that certain stanzas of Vande Mataram contain concepts that Muslims regard as inconsistent with the Islamic doctrine of monotheism.

Therefore, forcing Muslim students to recite the song amounts to a "direct infringement" upon their religious identity and constitutional freedoms, Ilyas said. He emphasised that a secular state must not impose the religious or cultural traditions of one community upon another.

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The AIMPLB appealed to Muslim students, parents, and teachers in West Bengal to remain aware of their constitutional and legal rights.
It urged them to seek appropriate legal remedies if they are subjected to any form of coercion or pressure to recite Vande Mataram, relying upon the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Supreme Court's ruling. 

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Daily Jagran Staff)