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As the Jharkhand government announces to make the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory in all educational institutions of the state on September 7, the issue has become a matter of national debate with different political parties expressing their views. West Bengal Chief Minister and CPM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, while addressing a party committee meeting in Jaipur, said that it must be a matter of choice for all citizens. "Vande Mataram was a famous song. The government of India has sent a circular to all stating that all should celebrate that day, September 7 by singing the song. But you cannot compel everybody to sing. Any school or person, who want to sing, let them sing but those who won't, you cannot compel them to sing that song. It is a democracy," said Bhattacharya. On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav blamed the BJP for politicising the issue. "The Bharatiya Janata Party raises controversies where there should be none. Vande Mataram is a patriotic song and with a little explaining and coercing all would have fallen into step. But the BJP, as usual just stirred up a hornet's nest and created so much controversy by saying that absolutely everyone should sing it," said Yadav after a meeting at Arnauta, about 45 kilometers from Agra. However, the Congress party leaders decide to side step the controversy and tread a middle path. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi said that there was no difference of opinion amongst the people and expressed the hope that all would sing the national song on September 7. "Vande Mataram is a patriotic song. You, I, we all will sing. Those who can sing will sing and those who do not know how to sing it will be helped to learn how to sing it. Please do not create sensational news about such a poignant and patriotic issue," he said. But the BJP has questioned the government's climb-down, saying it smacked of discrimination and encouraged a lack of patriotism. The BJP debates that the song is not a religious song, only a patriotic one that sings the glories of the country as a motherland and not as a goddess. However, Muslim leaders have reiterated they would issue orders to all their schools and madrassas to not allow the singing of 'Vande Mataram' in its premises. The row was sparked this month after the government asked all schools, including madrassas, to get students to sing the song on September 7, the conclusive date of its centenary celebration year. But within days, it backed down and made singing voluntary after Muslim leaders objected.
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