Those who honour Babur and oppose Vande Mataram have no right to live in India: CM Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow: A fresh political controversy has erupted after the Centre made it mandatory to sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram at government programmes and in all schools across the country.

The directive has drawn strong objections from several Muslim organisations, even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mounted a sharp defence of the move.

Addressing a public gathering, Adityanath said those who oppose Vande Mataram while “respecting Babur” have no right to live in India. “Those who oppose Vande Mataram do not deserve to reside on Indian soil. They honour Babur but object to Vande Mataram,” he said, intensifying the political debate.

The Chief Minister also accused sections of the opposition of consistently resisting initiatives linked to religious and cultural heritage. He referred to the development of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, and projects in Mathura, alleging that these efforts had faced opposition from certain political parties.

Citing historical references, Adityanath said that while some supported events such as Ghazi Mela, his government had constructed a memorial for Raja Suheldev, whom he described as a brave king who defeated Ghazi.

He further pointed to projects commemorating Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, including works at Manikarnika Ghat and the naming of a medical college in Auraiya after her, claiming that the Samajwadi Party and the Congress had protested these initiatives.

The controversy stems from new guidelines reportedly issued by the Union Home Ministry mandating that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram — lasting approximately three minutes and ten seconds — be sung before the national anthem at government functions and in schools.

The directive also states that everyone must stand while the song is being sung or played. Reacting strongly, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind termed the decision “unilateral” and “authoritarian.”

The organisation argued that making the song compulsory amounts to an infringement on the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. Several Muslim groups have expressed concern that the move imposes a particular cultural interpretation on diverse communities.

Prominent cleric Maulana Arshad Madani criticised the directive, calling it part of a “sectarian agenda” and urging the government to reconsider. He maintained that patriotism cannot be forced through compulsion and should arise voluntarily.

Meanwhile, Adityanath also highlighted the presentation of the state’s economic survey in the Assembly, calling it a “new declaration of a new era” for Uttar Pradesh. He said the survey symbolises the state’s developmental journey and reflects improving systems and governance.

As the debate deepens, the mandatory singing of Vande Mataram has once again brought questions of nationalism, religious freedom and political polarisation to the forefront of public discourse.

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