With Muslim clerics opposing calls to mandate singing of the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram in schools, the Bharatiya Janata Party has now said portions of the national song opposed by the Muslim League almost seven decades ago too should be sung by all.
"I am of the opinion that Vande Mataram should be sung in its entirety," Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organ Panchjanya has quoted BJP chief Rajnath Singh as having said.
In 1937, the Muslim League opposed singing of portions in Vande Mataram, which referred to goddess Durga.
"This song should be sung collectively," Rajnath Singh, who has announced his party will mandate Vande Mataram in UP schools if voted to power, said.
The BJP chief, however, denied news reports that he had issued written orders to the BJP-ruled states on the compulsory singing of the national song.
"I sent my message through newspapers only. There was no need for a written order. The national song will be sung at all party offices on September 7 in BJP-ruled states," Rajnath Singh said.
He, however, made no mention of any plans to ensure compliance of all government directives in schools in the party-ruled states on the Vande Mataram singing on that day.
Rajnath Singh, whose calls for mandating Vande Mataram have been endorsed by his predecessor Lal Kishenchand Advani, maintained the national song and the national anthem should not be viewed through religious angle.
Meanwhile, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday decided that Vande Mataram will be sung in all its offices, local bodies and panchayat offices, along with educational institutes, on September 7.
Divisional commissioners and district collectors were informed about the decision to recite the national song at government offices, local bodies and panchayat institutions at 11 am on September 7 to mark centenary celebrations of its adoption, official sources said.
The government had earlier issued a circular asking educational institutions to hold functions and ensure recitation of "at least two stanzas" of the national song on the day, they said.
Following the directives, the Madhya Pradesh Madrassa Board has also issued similar circulars to over 5,000 madarasas across the state.
