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NEW DELHI: All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday rejected Union cabinet’s decision to accord “Vande Mataram” a status equal to national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”, make all six stanzas of the song compulsory and mandate its recitation before the national anthem in govt and educational institutions. In a statement, the board said if the govt does not immediately withdraw this decision, AIMPLB will be compelled to challenge it in court. AIMPLB has termed the move “direct violation of the basic spirit of Constitution, religious freedom, secular values and historic decisions of the Constituent Assembly”. AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas said, “Cabinet’s decision is not only unconstitutional and undemocratic, but also contrary to the religious and cultural diversity and constitutional ethos of the country.” Ilyas said a secular state cannot impose religious concepts or beliefs of one community upon all citizens by force. “Several stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ contain invocations and glorification of Goddess Durga and other deities, which are in direct conflict with the Islamic doctrine of Tawheed (absolute oneness of God).” “Islam permits worship only of Allah, the One without partner, and doesn’t accept any form of ‘shirk’ (associating partners with God),” Ilyas said
