BHOPAL: In a bid to bring an end to raging controversy over Congress MLA refusal to sing Vande-Mataram, members of Muslim community on Saturday recited the national song at Shaurya Samarak here spreading message of communal harmony.
Bhopal (Central) MLA Arif Masood had courted controversy by refusing to recite Vande Mataram at a function in Sehore recently citing that it violated the tenets of Islamic Sharia law. On Saturday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers organized a mass recitation of the national song at Shaurya Smarak which saw participation of people from all walks of life and communities.
Nationalist NCP general secretary Apoorva Dubey said, “ Members of Muslim community participated in Vande Mataram recitation programme. It has sent a message to society that country is supreme for every citizen. It should be weighed and linked to religion.” By organizing the programme at Shaurya Smarak we gave a strong message to Congress MLA Arif Masood that country is foremost.
The BJP upped the ante and demanded that the MP Assembly Speaker seek a clarification from Masood. Criticizing him, the BJP had said that by refusing to recite Vande Mataram, Masood had hurt the sentiments of people.
