Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday strongly criticized the recent directive to organize musical and cultural programs in schools to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram, calling it an interference in the affairs of the elected government.
“This decision was not taken by the Cabinet, nor has the Education Minister signed it. There should be no interference in our work. We will decide what should or should not happen in schools. There should not be any dictation from outside in these matters,” Omar told reporters in Budgam.
Earlier, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an umbrella body of Muslim religious organizations in Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to immediately withdraw the directive instructing schools to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram through organized musical and cultural programs.
The MMU described the singing or reciting of Vande Mataram as un-Islamic.
“Vande Mataram contains expressions of devotion that contradict the fundamental Islamic belief in the absolute Oneness of Allah (Tawheed). Islam does not permit any act that involves worship or reverence directed to anyone or anything other than the Creator,” the MMU stated.
Meanwhile, police in several districts of Kashmir organized commemorative events to mark 150 years of the patriotic song “Vande Mataram”.
