For the first time, Muslims will fly tricolour, chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' in Mumbai dargah

Thousands of Muslims will hoist the Indian flag, sing the national anthem and chant Bharat Mata ki jai at Mumbai's famous Mahim dargah, reports Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.

At a time when a debate rages over patriotism and refusing to chant Bharat Mata ki jai can brand you an anti-national, thousands of Muslims will hoist the Indian tricolour, sing the national anthem and chant Bharat Mata ki Jai within the premises of the famous Mahim dargah in Mumbai to celebrate the 603rd Urs of Peer Maqdoom Shah Baba, on March 17.

Sohail Khandwani, president of the dargah’s trust, said the Muslims would be carrying out the event for the love of the nation. "Bharat Mata ki jai is praising the victory of the nation and we will chant it this evening,” he said.

Reacting to the controversy that erupted after All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi refused to say the slogan, Khandwani said it was wrong to force fellow Indians to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai and it should not be used as a test of one’s patriotism.

“It is wrong to force somebody to do it, but it is not restricted in Islam to praise the victory of a nation,” he said. “India is a progressive, secular country.”

Khandwani said Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be hoisting the national flag at 5 pm on Thursday evening following which the gathered assembly will sing the national anthem. Maqdoom Shah Baba’s flag will be hoisted and then Bharat Mata ki Jai will be chanted.

“I am doing it out of love for my country but I will not call anybody who refuses to do so as anti-national or unpatriotic. I can’t say that this event is a reaction to what Owaisi has said, but it is out of love for my motherland that I will be doing it,” Khandwani said.

“For the first time ever, the tricolour will be unfurled inside the dargah. This is a historic moment for us and will send a great message to the entire nation,” said Haji Arafat Shaikh, president of Shiv Vahtuk Sena and a Shiv Sena leader.

Shaikh said it was important for clerics from the community and prominent citizens of Mumbai to be present for the event. “It is indeed a matter of great pride for us that this is going to happen in the presence of Shah Maqdoom Baba (a famous saint of international repute).”

“Desh ka pyaar dil mein hona chahiye (you should love your nation from within). Many maulanas have sacrificed their lives for India’s independence. Maybe the Owaisi brothers and his party’s legislators should read the nation’s history first before making controversial statements. Muslim clerics have always said we should love our mother at home and more than that, we should love our nation,” Shaikh said about Owaisi and his party MLA Waris Pathan from Byculla, in central Mumbai, who was suspended from the state assembly for refusing to chant the slogan.

“If you don’t want to sing in praise of our mother’s victory then what do you want to sing about? When I was born I was comforted in my mother’s lap. When I die, my dead body will seek comfort in the depths of Mother India. Our nation is like our mother to us and what’s wrong in chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai?’