Muslim Law Board Opposes Centre’s ‘Vande Mataram’ Directive, Says ‘It Is Unconstitutional’

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 17:30 IST

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification, the AIMPLB warned that it would approach the courts if the central government does not revoke the directive.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has termed the central government’s notification making it mandatory to recite all verses of “Vande Mataram" in schools and official functions as “unconstitutional" and against “religious freedom and secular values."

In a statement, the AIMPLB said the directive contradicts the Supreme Court’s judgment and violates the fundamental rights of religious minorities. The board argued that the song contains references to the worship and veneration of Durga and other deities, which are incompatible with Islamic beliefs.

The AIMPLB said Muslims worship only one God, Allah, without any partner, and Islam does not permit any form of associating partners with God. It maintained that the mandatory recitation of all verses is therefore unacceptable for Muslims.

Also Read New Vande Mataram Guidelines FAQs: All Six Stanzas To Be Sung At Official Events

The board also pointed out that Indian courts have previously held that several verses of the song are inconsistent with secular values and have restricted their recitation.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification, the AIMPLB warned that it would approach the courts if the central government does not revoke the directive.

Meanwhile, reacting to the MHA’s move to mandate the recitation of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram before the National Anthem at official events, Muslim scholar Sajid Rashidi said the song has remained a point of controversy since 1937.

Also Read Opinion | Restoring Vande Mataram, Rejecting The Politics Of 1937

Rashidi said that prominent leaders of the time, including Abul Kalam Azad and Hussain Ahmed Madani, had written to the Congress stating that certain lines in Vande Mataram conflicted with the devotion of the Muslim community. He added that the Congress had subsequently passed a resolution removing those lines.

Referring to constitutional rights, Rashidi said freedom of speech and expression guarantees that nothing can be imposed on anyone. He also cited a 2016 Supreme Court ruling which stated that a person who does not stand during the recitation of Vande Mataram cannot be considered a traitor.

“I believe the lines of the national song, which refer to the country as ‘Maa Durga’ and ‘Maa Saraswati’, etc., are in direct conflict with our devotion. Muslims can give their lives but not compromise with their devotion. Even if our heads get cut, we will not recite those particular lines from the national song," he said.

He further warned that any attempt to impose the order would not be tolerated, stating that Muslims would refuse to recite the contested parts of the national song.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued its first set of guidelines on the singing of Vande Mataram to police chiefs and chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, directing that all six stanzas, running for 3 minutes and 10 seconds, be sung at official events such as the President’s arrival, the unfurling of the national flag, and governors’ addresses.

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