National Song Not to Be Forced, Waris Pathan Defends Religious Freedom

Addressing the heated debate on compulsory singing of ‘Vande Mataram’, Waris Pathan reiterated his party’s respect for the national anthem and the tricolour while insisting that no citizen should be compelled to chant verses that conflict with their faith.

Pathan explained that certain lines of the song conflict with Islamic monotheism, which permits worship only of Allah. For that reason, obligating Muslims to recite those verses would violate their constitutional right to religious practice.

He cited a Supreme Court precedent that distinguishes between respecting national symbols and mandating their performance. The leader warned that forcing any group to sing a particular song erodes democratic values and breaches the spirit of the Constitution.

While affirming his admiration for India’s flag and anthem, Pathan stressed that the state must not impose cultural expressions that run counter to individual belief systems.