BJP alleges IUML repeating Jinnah's stand on Vande Mataram

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K.K. Surendran has accused the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of following Muhammad Ali Jinnah's historical opposition to the national song Vande Mataram.

Addressing a meeting in Palakkad, the BJP's zonal general secretary claimed that the IUML was trying to distance the Muslim community from the national mainstream. He pointed out that Muslims had sung the full version of the song between 1896 and 1937 without any conflict with their faith.

Mr. Surendran also criticised the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the IUML for promoting what he called 'communal politics' over the issue. He said that opposing Vande Mataram during events celebrating its 150th anniversary was akin to opposing nationalism.

He further alleged that the League adopted a double standard on religious matters. Noting that IUML ministers take their oath in the name of God rather than Allah, he questioned whether their faith was affected by the choice of a common term.

Mr. Surendran recalled that Vande Mataram had been sung at All India Congress Committee sessions attended by national leaders, including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He accused the Congress of repeating past mistakes by not insisting on the full rendition of the song.

The song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, has been a subject of political and religious debate for decades. Its first public rendition was at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta. The full version includes verses that reference Hindu deities, leading to objections from some Muslim organisations. In 1937, the Congress adopted a compromise resolution to sing only the first two stanzas of the song, which are considered secular in nature.

Vande Mataram does not have the same legal standing as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. The Constitution specifies the national anthem, but it has not mandated the singing of Vande Mataram. This has led to varying practices in states and public institutions.

Jinnah, who later founded Pakistan, had consistently opposed the full Vande Mataram, calling it incompatible with Islamic tenets. His opposition was part of his broader argument that Muslim identity would be undermined under Hindu-majority nationalism, a stance that eventually led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

The IUML and some other Muslim groups in India have echoed similar sentiments over the years, arguing that the song's religious overtones exclude non-Hindus. The League, a prominent party in Kerala's political landscape, has repeatedly said it honours the song but cannot accept its full version being made mandatory.

The BJP, on the other hand, has maintained that Vande Mataram is a symbol of national unity and must be sung in full. Party leaders have accused the IUML of advocating separatism on religious lines and of attempting to isolate Muslims from the national mainstream.

This is not the first time the issue has led to political friction in Kerala. Public events featuring Vande Mataram have previously drawn objections from Muslim organisations, triggering debates similar to the current one.

The latest allegations by Mr. Surendran come at a time when the BJP is working to expand its influence in Kerala. The party has often targeted the IUML, describing it as a communal force, and has sought to position itself as the sole guardian of nationalism in the state.

The debate over Vande Mataram continues to highlight the tension between national identity and religious diversity in India. As the 150th anniversary celebrations proceed, the issue is likely to remain a source of political contention.