Day After Centre’s Vande Mataram Mandate, Jamiat Chief Arshad Madani Voices Objections

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 13:23 IST

Madani objected to some verses of the Vande Mataram song that address the country as a deity.

Senior Muslim leader and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Arshad Madani has strongly criticised the Union government’s new guidelines making the full version of the national song “Vande Mataram" mandatory at official programmes. 

He called the move an attack on religious freedom, constitutional rights of minorities and democratic values. Madani objected to some verses of the song that address the country as a deity.

What Arshad Madani said?

According to Madani, making “Vande Mataram" compulsory is a direct attack on the spirit of the Constitution, religious freedom and democracy. He said some stanzas are based on beliefs that portray the homeland as a deity, which contradicts the fundamental belief of monotheistic religions. Madani termed it an “attempt to curtail the constitutional rights of minorities". He said Muslims worship only one Allah and “cannot accept associating partners with Him."

In his post on X, Madani wrote that the government’s unilateral and coercive decision to mandate all stanzas of “Vande Mataram" in government programmes, schools, colleges and functions is a blatant violation of Article 25 of the Constitution and several Supreme Court judgments. He said Muslims do not prevent anyone from singing or playing the song, but forcing them to do so is unconstitutional. 

He said such decisions reflect electoral politics, a sectarian agenda and an attempt to divert attention from fundamental issues. “Some verses of the song are based on beliefs that portray the homeland as a deity, which contradict the fundamental belief of monotheistic religions. Since a Muslim worships only one Allah, forcing him to sing this song is a clear violation of Article 25 of the Constitution and several judgments of the Supreme Court. Making this song mandatory and attempting to impose it on citizens is not an expression of patriotism; rather, it reflects electoral politics, a sectarian agenda, and a deliberate effort to divert public attention from fundamental issues," reads his post on X.

He added that true patriotism lies in character and sacrifice, citing the historic role of Muslims and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, and warned that such steps weaken peace, unity and the spirit of the Constitution.

“Such decisions weaken the country’s peace, unity, and democratic values and undermine the spirit of the Constitution. Therefore, making “Vande Mataram" compulsory is a clear assault on the Constitution, religious freedom, and democratic principles," Madani concluded.

News india Day After Centre’s Vande Mataram Mandate, Jamiat Chief Arshad Madani Voices Objections

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