New Delhi, September 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Thursday criticised Gitanjali Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, over her remarks on the rendition of the national song Vande Mataram, calling them “unfortunate”, “regrettable” and “objectionable”.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, backed Angmo’s views and questioned the opposition to the national song.
In an interview with IANS, Gitanjali Angmo described objections to Vande Mataram over references to Hindu deities as “a childish way of thinking”. She compared the issue with Hindus singing Urdu ghazals or reciting Sanskrit verses, arguing that doing so does not affect their religious identity.
“If we read a ghazal and sing it in Urdu, it is not as if a Hindu singing it would have their religion corrupted. Similarly, if we read any shloka or something and associate it with a particular party or with Sanskrit, then that is also very wrong. Sanskrit is a language, so what is the problem?” she said.
Angmo also argued that the complete version of Vande Mataram should be sung, saying the first two stanzas were initially selected because the song was lengthy and that this did not mean the remaining stanzas were rejected.
Calling the song a “very profound symbol”, she said, “You cannot cut any work of art.”
Reacting to her remarks, Rashidi told IANS that comparing Vande Mataram with ghazals was based on misinformation. He said ghazals contain romantic verses and do not involve worship, whereas Vande Mataram contains references to the worship of deities.
Rashidi maintained that Muslims could not sing a song involving the worship of Hindu goddesses as it would be against their faith. He also said the Constitution allows individuals to choose whether to sing something they consider contrary to their religious beliefs.
BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh backed Angmo and acknowledged that Vande Mataram contains references to Hindu deities, while stressing that their context should be examined carefully.
“Maa Durga is mentioned in the context of courage, of fighting enemies,” Singh said.
Questioning objections to the national song, Singh said Vande Mataram had played an important role in India’s freedom struggle and criticised the Congress and Muslim League for opposing it.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Priyanka Kakkar said the controversy over the rendition of Vande Mataram should now end, claiming that its singing has been mandated under law.
FOLLOW NOW
