Indore councillor refuses to sing ‘Vande Mataram’, says religion doesn’t permit; told to leave house

INDORE: A row broke out in the Indore Municipal Corporation after a Congress woman councillor declined to sing Vande Mataram, citing her religious beliefs, during discussions on the civic body’s budget.

The incident took place on Wednesday when councillor Fauzia Sheikh Alim refused to sing the national song, prompting BJP members to rush to the chairman’s podium and raise slogans. Amid the commotion, chairman Munnalal Yadav directed her to leave the House.





Speaking to reporters later, Alim said her religion does not permit her to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ — a Sanskrit phrase meaning “I bow to thee, Mother”.



She asserted that she enjoys religious freedom under the Constitution and cannot be compelled to sing the national song. As the controversy intensified, she clarified that she respects Vande Mataram and would continue to do so.

Alim further alleged that she had stood up to raise the issue of contaminated drinking water in the meeting, but BJP councillors asked her to sing the national song first, which she described as an attempt to divert attention from core civic concerns.

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava termed her refusal “unfortunate” and claimed that she deliberately arrives late to avoid participating in the customary singing.

Municipal Corporation Leader of Opposition and Congress councillor Chintu Chouksey distanced the party from the issue, saying it was Alim’s personal view. “Vande Mataram is ingrained in every citizen of India. Singing the national song should be mandatory for every citizen,” he added.

Written in 1875 by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and later included in his novel Anandamath (1882), Vande Mataram became a powerful symbol during India’s freedom movement and was first published in the literary magazine Bangadarshan.

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