In a pointed rebuttal to Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind’s critique of government directives on Vande Mataram, BJP’s Yasar Jilani defended the national song with unyielding passion. Speaking to media, he posed a fundamental question: how can respecting one’s motherland be deemed sinful?
Jilani highlighted the song’s storied legacy in India’s independence struggle. ‘Freedom fighters chanted Vande Mataram against the British, offering their lives. Are we now to discredit their valor?’ he asked, directly addressing Jamiat’s Maulana Madani.
Dismissing claims that Vande Mataram contradicts Islamic tenets, Jilani called it misguided propaganda. He challenged the selective outrage: ‘They remain silent on haram acts like drinking, yet target a patriotic anthem. This is about sowing discord in India.’
Addressing Muslim youth directly, Jilani described the song as an ode to national pride, devoid of religious imposition. ‘Understand it as devotion to Bharat, not a threat to your faith,’ he advised.
Jilani lambasted long-standing opposition from self-proclaimed secularists in Congress and allies, whose resistance has grown since 2014. The new guidelines mandating its singing underscore its importance. ‘Vote-bank politics can’t override patriotism,’ he stated firmly. In an era craving harmony, such opposition only fractures society, he warned, advocating for a united front.