Soon after Tamil Nadu made singing of the national song 'Vande Mataram' mandatory in schools across Tamil Nadu, it's Mumbai's turn.
The BMC today cleared a proposal by a BJP corporator who wanted 'Vande Mataram' to be made mandatory in all civic schools in Mumbai. The proposal will now be sent to the Maharashtra government for a final decision.
The corporator from the P South ward, Sandeep Patel, had filed a notice of motion demanding that all students at civic schools sing 'Vande Mataram' at least twice a week on campus, reported DNA.
"The song as such would only increase patriotism in the minds of children. Therefore, I strongly felt that the BMC should consider this proposal," Patel had said.
However, the proposal was opposed by the Samajwadi party in the BMC. The party claimed that by making the song compulsory would mean worshipping the motherland. And that may not be accepted by the Muslim community, who do not worship anyone apart from 'Allah', reported Times Of India.
In April 2017, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the central government asking for its response to a petition that sought to make singing Vande Mataram mandatory at all educational institutes. However, in February 2017, the top court had said that the Indian Constitution does not have the concept of a national song.