Muslim body supports fatwa against Vande Mataram

A top Muslim body on Tuesday asked members of the community not to recite Vande Mataram and supported seminary Darul Uloom's edict that opposes any prayer involving the song.

"The fatwa of Darul Uloom (opposing the recitation of Vande Mataram) is correct," stated one of the 25 resolutions passed by the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind on Tuesday, at its 30th general session in Deoband, in the presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Darul Uloom's fatwa department had issued the edict in 2006, describing the recitation of Vande Mataram as anti-Islamic.

"The judgment of the Supreme Court also clearly states that nobody can be compelled to sing Vande Mataram," said the resolution, which was adopted by over 10,000 clerics from across the country.

It also expressed deep concern over the communal hatred and violence exploiting the issue.

"We love and respect the mother, but do not worship her. The house demands that the issue of Vande Mataram should not be deliberately raised to cause communal discord and threat to law and order," said the resolution, which sparked a sharp reaction from certain groups, which burnt the effigy of Darul Deoband at some places.

The resolution also condemned the exploitation of the Vande Mataram issue to target Muslims. "Patriotism does not require the singing of Vande Mataram. We love our country and have proved this several times, but Vande Mataram violates our faith in monotheism, which is the foundation of Islam," the resolution said.

The Jamiat also attacked the United Progressive Alliance government and asked it to stop making 'lucrative promises' to minorities and immediately implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee report.

The body also adopted a series of resolutions asking the UPA government to stop interfering in minorities' affairs, including tampering with the madrasa education system.

"We demand that the UPA government implement the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Commission recommendations, so that maximum number of people are benefited," a resolution said.

The Jamiat also opposed the central government's plan to set up a Central Madrasa Board, saying it was yet "another attempt by the government to interfere in the madrasa education system".

"The government must avoid setting up the Madrasa Board," it warned.

It also urged the government to formulate a law against communal riots and to secure Waqf properties. The resolutions opposed amendments in Article 377 and 33 per cent reservation for women, calling it 'unnecessary and unacceptable'.

The Jamiat further condemned suicide bombings, saying it takes the lives of innocent people. The concluding day of the three-day session was also attended by Communist Party of India - Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and yoga guru Ramdev, who demonstrated his skills to thousands of Muslim clerics.

The Darul Uloom had issued a fatwa in favour of yoga after some clerics last year banned Muslims from practising it.