Leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Christian Forum have expressed concerns over the recent central government directive mandating the singing of all six stanzas of the national song, Vande Mataram, instead of the previously allowed two stanzas. They stated that certain verses of the song hurt their religious sentiments and violate their freedom of conscience.
Previous Rules vs New Directive
Earlier, students and institutions were required to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram. However, the central government recently instructed that all six stanzas must be sung. According to the forum leaders, this change disregards the emotional and religious sensitivities of minority communities.
Supreme Court Support
The forum pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously acknowledged its concerns regarding the song. Despite this, the central government issued new orders without considering their sentiments. Leaders termed this move as insensitive and legally questionable.
Threat of Legal Action
Andhra Pradesh Christian Forum leaders have now announced that they will challenge the directive in court. They are prepared to fight a legal battle to ensure that their religious beliefs and emotional rights are respected in educational and public institutions.
The Way Forward
The forum urges the government to reconsider its instructions on Vande Mataram and allow flexibility in the number of stanzas sung, ensuring that minority communities do not feel compelled to violate their religious conscience.
As the debate intensifies, this issue is likely to remain a significant topic in Andhra Pradesh and at the national level, sparking discussions on balancing national mandates with individual and community rights.
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