"Vande Mataram should not be politicised": Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, June 2 said that Vande Mataram is the national song of the country and should be accorded due respect by all citizens, irrespective of region, religion or political affiliation.

His remarks came in response to the opposition expressed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) regarding the West Bengal government's decision to make the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory in certain contexts.

Addressing the issue, Rijiju stated that Vande Mataram does not belong to any individual, community, state or religious group, but is a national symbol that represents the country as a whole.

“Vande Mataram is the national song of the entire nation. It does not belong exclusively to me, to you, to any single state, or to any specific religion; it is a national song,” the Union Minister said.

He further asserted that every citizen should show respect towards the national song and emphasized that the matter should not be viewed through a political lens.

Rijiju said there should be no scope for politicising the issue, stressing that national symbols should serve as unifying elements rather than becoming subjects of political debate.

The comments come amid a renewed discussion over the role of Vande Mataram in educational and public institutions, following the West Bengal government's decision and the objections raised by the AIMPLB. The issue has triggered reactions from various political and social groups, with differing views emerging over the implementation of the policy.

The Union Minister, however, maintained that respect for the national song should transcend political and religious considerations and reflect a shared sense of national identity.