BJP trying to force Muslims, minorities to worship Hindu deities, says Owaisi; DMK slams Vande Mataram bill as ‘fraud’

NEW DELHI: AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi Thursday slammed the bill making “insult” to Vande Mataram a crime, saying BJP is trying to force Muslims and minorities to worship Hindu deities, while DMK claimed it was hurting the secular fabric of the country.DMK MP A Raja, who moved an amendment to the bill in Lok Sabha, called the legislation a “fraud” perpetrated by Modi govt on people. He said Constituent Assembly approved only two paragraphs of the song. “The Constitution came from Constituent Assembly, and it is unconstitutional to exceed Constituent Assembly. This bill will not stand judicial scrutiny. This is against the secular fabric of India and we will not accept it,” he said.Meanwhile, as Congress attacked govt for passing the bill amid din, MP KC Venugopal questioned the absence of home minister Amit Shah from LS when his ministry’s legislation to “prevent the insult to national symbols” was taken up. Manickam Tagore too criticised Shah’s absence from the House. Some members of Congress — which has been asking Shah questions about the police crackdown on student protesters — termed the bill as “divisive” and against secularism. Owaisi argued “national anthem — Jana Gana Mana” is a reflection of the country and its people, but Vande Mataram is about prayers to “devi-devta”. “This bill is a grave violation of Article 25 that gives freedom of religion. This is intended to convert India into a Hindu theocratic state.”

Congress MP Tariq Anwar said govt should have taken opposition parties into confidence for this bill but “this govt tries to impose its views on people”.He said Vande Mataram was a principal song of the freedom struggle, and all Congress functions start with the national song. “But controversy is about govt interfering with the decision of Constituent Assembly…objectionable words were removed because India is secular.” Party MP Ujjwal Raman Singh called the bill’s passage without discussion a “black day” in India’s history.