Speaking in New Delhi, Madani said, “We can give our lives, but we cannot say Vande Mataram,” arguing that the song’s latter stanzas describe the nation in divine form, which, he said, contradicts core Islamic principles. “Love for one’s homeland is natural, but worship is reserved only for Allah,” he added.
Madani emphasised that the objection is theological, not political, and said Muslims should not be pressured to utter words that violate their faith. He invoked Article 25, guaranteeing freedom of religion, and Article 19, ensuring freedom of expression, to argue that compelling citizens to recite any slogan or song against their conscience would breach constitutional rights.
Responding to accusations questioning Muslim patriotism, Madani said the community needed “no certificate,” asserting that the contributions of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind to the freedom movement and opposition to Partition were well documented.
He also referred to historical deliberations preceding Independence. According to Madani, Rabindranath Tagore had advised Jawaharlal Nehru in 1937 that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be adopted, as other parts could be objectionable to non-Hindu communities. The Congress Working Committee later endorsed that view. “Quoting Tagore today to demand the full song is against historical facts,” he said.
The remarks are likely to reignite discussion on cultural nationalism, minority rights, and the limits of symbolic assertion in public life. No official response had been issued by the government at the time of filing this report.
