'If You Want To Stay In India…': Suvendu Adhikari’s Vande Mataram Remark Amid Muslim Body’s Objection
'If You Want To Stay In India…': Suvendu Adhikari’s Vande Mataram Remark Amid Muslim Body’s Objection Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 10:07 IST
'If You Want To Stay In India…': Suvendu Adhikari’s Vande Mataram Remark Amid Muslim Body’s Objection Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 10:07 IST Suvendu Adhikari has said people should say Vande Mataram if they want to live in this country, amid AIMPLB’s opposition to Bengal’s school order. A file photo of Suvendu Adhikari (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said that people must say “Vande Mataram" and respect national symbols if they want to live in this country, amid an ongoing debate over the West Bengal government’s decision to make the song mandatory in school assemblies. Addressing reporters, Adhikari said, “If you want to live in the country, you have to say Vande Mataram. If you want to live in the country, you have to say Jana Gana Mana. If you want to live in the country, you have to celebrate January 26 (Republic Day) and August 15 (Independence Day)." He further described the practice as part of the Indian culture and Sanatana Dharma. The BJP leader also defended the move to introduce the singing of Vande Mataram in schools, saying, “We have started Vande Mataram in every school." Referring to weather conditions, he said schools had been advised that “if they want to do it in the morning, they can do it." Adhikari added that “India’s name is also Hindustan" and asserted that “if you want to live in the country, you have to follow the culture of the country." He also remarked that “this country cannot be taken by anyone else." The remarks come amid a row over the West Bengal government’s decision to make the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory during morning assemblies in state-run and state-aided schools.
The directive has also been extended to madrassas in the state with immediate effect, according to news agency PTI. However, the controversy intensified after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) strongly opposed the move, terming it a violation of constitutional freedoms. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said the directive was “not only contrary to the spirit of the Constitution but also inconsistent with India’s secular and democratic traditions." The AIMPLB expressed concern over the compulsory recitation of all stanzas of Vande Mataram in government schools and government-recognised madrassas across Bengal. The body demanded that the notification either be withdrawn or that Muslim students be exempted from its implementation. AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas said compelling students to recite a song that conflicts with their religious beliefs amounts to a violation of Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 19, 25 and 28(3) of the Constitution. He also referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Bijoe Emmanuel versus State of Kerala case, where the apex court had ruled that no citizen can be forced to participate in a national or religious ceremony that goes against sincerely held beliefs. According to Ilyas, certain stanzas of Vande Mataram contain concepts that Muslims consider inconsistent with the Islamic doctrine of monotheism.
“Therefore, forcing Muslim students to recite the song amounts to a direct infringement upon their religious identity and constitutional freedoms," he said, as per PTI. The organisation further argued that a secular state should not impose the religious or cultural traditions of one community upon another. It also urged Muslim students, parents and teachers in West Bengal to remain aware of their legal and constitutional rights and seek legal remedies if subjected to coercion. Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in on the issue and criticised attempts to politicise the national song. Speaking on the controversy, Rijiju said, “Vande Mataram is the national song of the entire nation. It does not belong exclusively to me, to you, to any single state, or to any specific religion; it is a national song." He further said that everyone should accord the song due respect and there should be “absolutely no scope for politicising this issue". News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
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