'Vande Mataram' mandatory in madrasahs: Oppn parties term Bengal govt's move as 'arbitrary'

Opposition parties in West Bengal on Thursday criticised the BJP governments decision to make the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory in all madrasahs across the state, terming the move as arbitrary and an attempt to undermine the countrys pluralistic ethos.Senior CPIM leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that the government was trying to divert attention from the deterioration of the education sector, while state Congress veteran Pradip Bhattacharjee dubbed the Directorate of Madrasah Education order incorrect.The TMC had destroyed the education system in the state.

Opposition parties in West Bengal on Thursday criticised the BJP government's decision to make the singing of 'Vande Mataram' mandatory in all madrasahs across the state, terming the move as ''arbitrary'' and an ''attempt to undermine the country's pluralistic ethos''.

Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that the government was trying to divert attention from the ''deterioration'' of the education sector, while state Congress veteran Pradip Bhattacharjee dubbed the Directorate of Madrasah Education order ''incorrect''.

''The TMC had destroyed the education system in the state. The primary concern of this government should be rebuilding the sector. But the administration is more interested in deciding which song should be the assembly prayer in schools. It shows their intention to instigate people and not to improve the education sector,'' Chakraborty told PTI.

Bhattacharjee said the 'Vande Mataram' song has historically been associated with protest and political mobilisation, making it compulsory in madrasahs was ''not appropriate''.

''We have used 'Vande Mataram' during political rallies and protests. I think making it mandatory in madrasahs is an incorrect decision. The government could have consulted with the teachers in the madrasahs and could have allowed them to decide. This is an arbitrary decision,'' Bhattacharjee told PTI.

He said the move could trigger resentment in some sections of society and urged the government to reconsider its stand.

Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar accused the BJP of ''attempting to undermine India's pluralistic ethos'' and said, ''We have been warning about the danger of the BJP.''.

He referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's repeated assertions that the BJP seeks to ''weaken the country's pluralistic and multicultural traditions''.

Former TMC minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, however, refrained from commenting on the issue.

The West Bengal government has made the singing of 'Vande Mataram' at assembly prayers compulsory in all madrasahs with immediate effect, the order said.

The latest order stated that the directive would apply to the government's model madrasahs, government-aided madrasahs, approved Shishu Shiksha Kendra and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras, as well as recognised unaided madrasahs functioning under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department.

Incidentally, the move comes shortly after the Union government initiated steps to strengthen provisions related to respect for national symbols, including a proposed amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, making obstruction to the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence.