Puneet Nicholas Yadav. Deoband
The Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) on Tuesday said the fatwa issued by the Darul Uloom Deoband in 2006 against the recitation of Vande Mataram by Muslims was "correct".
The JUH, the largest congregation of Islamic scholars in the country, passed the resolution at its 30th general session, which is being attended by nearly 10,000 clerics. "For some time, Vande Mataram has been exploited to target Muslims. On the pretext of an edict of Darul Uloom, Deoband, attempts are being made to fan hatred in Deoband and its outskirts," the resolution stated. "This house of JUH would like to clarify that patriotism does not require the singing of Vande Mataram."
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denounced the resolution, calling it "anti-national" and saying it is reflective of a "separatist" mindset. The party also attacked Union home minister P Chidambaram for "lending legitimacy to a Talibani mentality by attending the meet". Chidambaram addressed the JUH's general session on Tuesday.
The JUH resolution states: "We love our country and have proved this several times, but Vande Mataram violates our faith in monotheism that is the foundation of our faith. We can love and serve our country, but cannot elevate it to the status of Allah, the only one worshipped by Muslims. The fatwa of Darul Uloom is correct."
JUH leader and Rajya Sabha MP Maulana Mahmood Madani said: "The country is our mother. We love and respect the mother, but do not worship her."
The resolution says: "The judgement of the Supreme Court (in 2006) clearly states that nobody can be compelled to sing Vande Mataram. This house demands that the issue… not be deliberately raised for causing communal discord and threat to law and order."
But BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: "No one had insisted that they begin their meet by singing Vande Mataram. So why did they (JUH) make it a point to start it (the meet) with a resolution opposing the national song?" He criticised Chidambaram, saying: "If the Congress provides legitimacy to such Talibani events, several such centres would crop up in our country."
Naqvi accused the Congress of being soft towards "such elements", saying the party is following a "weak-kneed policy" on terrorists.