'Vande Mataram un-Islamic': Muslim groups oppose J&K government's school order
Jammu and Kashmir's government has made it mandatory for all schools to celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram, asking students to join special programs starting from the seventh of this month.
Muslim organizations, especially the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), are strongly opposing this, calling the order "un-Islamic" and arguing that reciting or singing Vande Mataram violates the Islamic principle of Tawheed and saying it clashes with their faith and religious freedom.
MMU calls for withdrawal of order
The MMU, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, says forcing students to recite Vande Mataram goes against Islamic beliefs and feels like pressure in a region where most people are Muslim.
They want the order withdrawn so everyone's rights are respected and social harmony is maintained.
To enforce these orders, education officials have been put in charge—making this debate about more than just a song; it's about balancing tradition, faith, and personal freedoms for young people in J&K.