Vande Mataram compulsion objections raised by Jamiat leader:Says forcing song hurts harmony; urges inclusive Hindi national song acceptable to all

Jamiat Ulema Madhya Pradesh President Haji Mohammad Haroon has registered an objection regarding the Vande Mataram song. He said that there have been objections to the Vande Mataram song from the beginning. Muslims have always protested against it. Loving our country through its verses is our faith. We love our country, we adore it, we cherish it. We love our parents, we adore them, we cherish them. Because there is a world of difference between loving and worshipping. We want these words of worship – we only worship Allah, one God, one God, one Allah and no one else, and the whole world knows well what the position of Islam is. What is the position of Muslims, and what freedom has the Constitution of India given us? Both the Government of India and the State Government know this very well. Attempts are made to force it. Even now, they haven’t made a law; they just keep issuing orders. Even prominent people don’t understand the meaning of the song Haji Mohammad Haroon said many prominent people do not understand the meanings of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, as they are in Bengali, while most Indians speak Hindi. He urged the Government of India to form a high-level committee of scholars, poets, and writers to create a new, universally accepted national song in Hindi. He suggested adopting or creating a song like Saare Jahan Se Achha, written by Allama Iqbal, which is widely sung across India, including in the army. He emphasised that no one should be forced to sing any song, calling it unconstitutional and harmful to harmony. Those who do not sing should not be labelled anti-national. He argued that a simple, inclusive Hindi song accepted by all communities would promote unity and be embraced nationwide. Without law, forcing is not right
There is ongoing debate over practices like Surya Namaskar and singing Vande Mataram, with some people objecting to religious elements such as worship or prayer, while accepting them as physical exercise or cultural activities. Many argue that all sports and activities should be promoted without compulsion. The government has issued only guidelines on Vande Mataram so far. There is no punishment for not following these guidelines unless a specific law is enacted. The National Anthem is legally protected under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which allows imprisonment of up to three years or a fine for disrespect. In the 2017 Supreme Court ruling (Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs Union of India), the court clarified that the Constitution does not mandate a national song, and institutions cannot force people to sing Vande Mataram. Article 51A mentions respect only for the National Flag and National Anthem. Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later included in Anandamath (1882), became popular during the freedom movement but faced opposition from some Muslim leaders who viewed it as promoting idol worship or Hindu nationalism. Opposition dates back to: 1908: Sir Syed Ali Imam called it un-Islamic. 1920s: Islamic publications described it as idol worship. 1923: Mohammad Ali Jauhar opposed it at a Congress session. 1938: M.A. Jinnah objected to Muslim children being forced to sing it. Overall, the issue centres on compulsion vs choice, legal status, and religious sensitivities.