Muslim groups accuse India of imposing Hindu nationalist song
Religious leaders say Modi government’s reported move to mandate full “Vande Mataram”song threatens secularism and religious freedom
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Prominent Muslim organizations and opposition leaders in India have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda after reports that authorities decided to grant the song “Vande Mataram” legal status equal to the national anthem and make all six verses compulsory in educational and state institutions.
The criticism emerged days after Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a controversial election victory in the eastern state of West Bengal, a result fiercely challenged by opposition parties that alleged electoral manipulation and described the outcome as a “stolen mandate.”
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), one of the country’s most influential Muslim organizations, condemned the reported decision as an attempt to impose a singular religious-cultural identity on India’s diverse population.
“This is not patriotism. This is coercive nationalism wrapped in religious symbolism,” AIMPLB spokesperson Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas said in a sharply worded statement issued Thursday.
The organization accused the BJP-led federal government of undermining India’s secular constitutional framework by compelling citizens to participate in practices that may conflict with their religious beliefs.
“By making all six stanzas mandatory, the government is tearing apart a carefully built constitutional consensus that respects India’s pluralism,” the statement said.
The dispute centers on the later verses of “Vande Mataram,” a song written during British colonial rule that has long been associated with Hindu nationalist movements. Muslim groups argue that several stanzas contain references to Hindu goddess worship, including invocations of Goddess Durga, making them religiously problematic for many Muslims.
India’s national anthem is “Jana Gana Mana,” while “Vande Mataram” holds separate status as the country’s national song.
The AIMPLB noted that Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore had advised as early as 1937 that only the first two verses of the song be used publicly because the later portions carried overtly religious imagery.
India’s Constituent Assembly later adopted a similar approach in 1950 when recognizing the song’s national importance while avoiding mandatory use of all verses.
The Muslim body alleged that the latest move reflects a broader push toward majoritarian nationalism under the BJP government, which has frequently faced accusations from rights advocates and opposition parties of marginalizing religious minorities, particularly Muslims.
“The unity of India cannot be built through intimidation, religious majoritarianism, and forced conformity,” the AIMPLB statement said.
Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party and one of India’s most prominent Muslim lawmakers, also criticized the reported decision.
“The nation does not run in the name of a god or goddess, and it does not belong to one god or goddess,” Owaisi said Thursday, arguing that a religious hymn cannot be treated on par with a national anthem in a secular republic.
The AIMPLB warned that it would challenge the move in court if the government formally implements the policy, potentially setting up a major constitutional dispute over nationalism, religious freedom, and state authority in the world’s largest democracy.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
