A major political issue erupted in Maharashtra when Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that he cannot chant Vande Mataram as Islam does not allow it and that does not mean any disrespect to the nation.
A former Rajya Sabha member, Azmi (67), the state SP chief, is a four term-MLA and now represents the Mankhurd-Shivajinagar seat of Mumbai.
Azmi’s party SP is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and the part of the national grand opposition alliance INDIA, an acronym for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
This gave BJP the chance to target the opposition unity.
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“Some people say that if one has to live in India, Vande Mataram must be chanted. We cannot do it. We believe only in one God…we cannot bow our head before anyone…not even before our mother…our religion does not allow it,” he said.
Azmi’s comments came in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly when he was discussing the violent communal clashes in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar - earlier known as Aurangabad - during the 30 March Ram Navami festivities which coincided with with the holy month of Ramzan.
Even while Azmi was speaking, the opposition benches were on their feet and the BJP members took severe exception to his remarks.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar pacified the members and asked them to be calm even as he requested Azmi to confine himself to the subject matter under discussions.
Azmi said that “our forefathers sacrificed their lives for this country” and they are the ones who considered India as their country and not Pakistan. “We are as much a part of this country as you… The Sakal Hindu Samaj gatherings have resulted in violence in many parts of Maharashtra, but no action was taken against those making hate-speeches in those meetings,” Azmi said.
Narwekar also had to adjourn the House because of the uproarious scenes.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “No religion teaches you not to bow down before your own mother…crores of people have respect for our national song Vande Mataram…..no religion teaches people not to bow before your mother, not even Islam….Vande Mataram is not a religious song but a pride of the nation.”