less than a fortnight after the issue became a bone of contention between the ruling BJP and two Muslim Opposition MlAs in the Maharashtra Assembly, the Shiv Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to make the singing of “Vande Mataram” compulsory for two days in a week in all civic and aided schools across the metropolis.
At a general meeting, the BMC adopted a resolution moved by BJP Corporator Sandeep Patel, without a comprehensive debate in the House.
In his resolution moved in the backdrop of the Madras High Court’s recent order making singing of “Vande Mataram” compulsory in schools in Tamil Nadu, Patel had said that in order to instil sense of patriotism among children, the singing of “Vande Mataram” he mandatory on at least two days in a week in BMC and its aided schools in the city. He also said that “Vande Mataram” must be sung at the beginning of BMC's every Standing Committee, Improvement Committee and other committee meetings.
Amid protests by the Samajwadi Party which has six corporators in the 227-member House, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar put the resolution to a voice vote and the resolution was passed by the House.
Earlier, leader of the Opposition Ravi Raja of the Congress said that making the singing of “Vande Mataram” in civic and aided schools should be an option and it should be left to the free will of students.
Opposing the move to make singing of “Vande Mataram” mandatory in civic and aided schools, Samajwadi Party’s group leader Rais Shaikh demanded that the resolution be put to vote in the House.