'I can't stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram'

In a U-turn, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Avtar Singh Makkar on Wednesday said he cannot prevent Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram in schools run by the shrine management body.

A day after he asked Sikhs not to sing the National Song on its centenary on Thursday, Makkar said: "How can I stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram when I cannot even prevent SGPC-run schools. I, alone, am not powerful enough to direct all members of the community not to sing the national song."

Makkar had issued a directive on Tuesday to schools run by the SGPC not to rectite the Vande Mataram as it

only 'spreads a particular religion and does not fulfill the aspirations of minorities, including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians.'

"It is a conspiracy to extend communalism in the nation," his statement said.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by former parliamentarian Simranjit Singh Mann has also announced that Akali leaders would go to schools in Punjab and ensure that no student is forced to sing Vande Mataram.

The SGPC is controlled by SAD (Badal), which has an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. Other Akali groups have accused former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of encouraging Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh interference with Sikh religious affairs.