Vande Mataram row rocks Maharashtra legislature, BJP demands ban on AIMIM leader

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi's refusal to sing national song today rocked both the houses of the Maharashtra legislature.

Pathan and BJP MLA Raj Purohit got into heated argument outside Maharashtra Assembly today over Vande Mataram.

Both the leaders came face to face near the media stands and raised slogans against each other. While Purohit demanded that everyone in the country must sing Vande Mataram, Pathan insisted that he will not sing it.

The BJP leader, who was peeved with Pathan's statement, later demanded that he should be banned. In response to Purohit's demand, Pathan sat down in protest. The sparring leaders were dispersed by the security at Vidhan Bhawan.

"I will say jai hind, but I will not say Vande Mataram. Nowhere in the Constitution it is mentioned that saying Vande Mataram is mandatory. No one can force such ideas on us. Our religion does not permit. We respect the country but will not sing it," said Pathan demanding an apology from Purohit.

In his response, Purohit said that Pathan was unnecessarily giving the incident a communal undertone. "Vande Mataram has been inspiring many since pre-independence days. Several Muslim freedom fighters too have said it. Why should Pathan have a problem saying it now? Bharat mai rehna hoga toh Vande Mataram kehna hoga (If you wish to stay in India, you must say Vande Mataram)," said Purohit.

Another BJP MLA Anil Gote from Dhule too raised the issue in the Assembly. However, Azmi objected to Gote's remarks calling him anti-national. Another leader Eknath Khadse too reiterated that those staying in India will have to sing Vande Mataram.

Meanwhile, Purohit has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding to make Vande Mataram mandatory in the state following the Madras High Court verdict.

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