A new debate has started in Maharashtra regarding the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. Acharya Tushar Bhosale, head of Adhyatmik Aghadi, has said that singing of Vande Mataram should be made mandatory in all the madrassas of the state. He also demanded from the government that the government funds of those madrassas where Vande Mataram is not sung should be stopped immediately. After this statement, a new controversy may arise in the politics of the state.

Statement of Acharya Tushar Bhosle

Acharya Tushar Bhosale said that Vande Mataram is the soul of our nation and every Indian should respect it. He said that some people have protested against singing Vande Mataram in some schools of Maharashtra, which is against the pride of the nation. According to Bhosale, “The school is ours, the country is ours, the students are ours and the government is also ours… Then who is protesting? Who are the people who avoid patriotism even after living in India?”

If you want to live in this country, you will have to sing Vande Mataram – Acharya Tushar Bhosale

Taking a sharp stance in his statement, Bhosale said, “Whoever wants to live in this country will have to sing Vande Mataram.” He appealed to the Maharashtra government to make singing of the national anthem mandatory every day in all the madrassas running in the state. Bhosale also said that the government funds of those madrasas which do not follow this order should be stopped immediately.

political meaning of the dispute

This statement of Bhosale has created a stir in the politics of Maharashtra. Opposition parties have called it an attempt at religious polarisation, while Bhosale’s supporters are calling it an initiative of national honour. Even before this, controversies have arisen regarding the national anthem in Maharashtra, but this time the statement given regarding madrassas has become the cause of new debate. Now it remains to be seen what stand the government takes on this issue and whether an order is actually issued to make Vande Mataram mandatory in madrassas or not.