Vice-President of Farzandan-e-Millat Yusuf Khalil Hussaini has criticised lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar for warning senior BSP MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq on the ground that he has disrespected the National Song in the House.
In a letter addressed to the lok Sabha Speaker, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, Yusuf Khalil has stated that it was unfortunate for the Speaker to bow to the pressure of BJP and issue the warning.
"There are some expressions in the National Song 'Vande Mataram' which are against tenets of Islam. The song has along history of controversy in respect to Muslims and Islam.
At the same time, India is a secular country and the Constitution gives every person the freedom to pursue the religion of his choice. It would be really condemnable if somebody has done the same thing with regard to the National Anthem," he has stated in the letter.
He has also alleged that the act of Speaker in issuing warning to a senior parliamentarian exposes the double standards practiced by the Congress party because the Speaker belongs to that party.
"Congress always projects it image as well-wisher of the Muslims. It also claims to be a secular party. It should ensure that such an incident is not repeated in the future. Meira Kumar holds a constitutional position and the law provides that it is optional for a person to stand when National Song is being sung," he has stated.
He also announced that Millat will felicitate Barq on his arrival in Bhopal as he raised his voice against an anti-Islamic practice in the Parliament.