Vande Mataram row: Chaos witnessed in Maharashtra Assembly; BJP, AIMIM MLAs clash with each other

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Assembly on  Friday witnessed an unruly scene after BJP MLA Raj Purohit and AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan engaged in a heated verbal communication over the Vande Mataram row. 

As per a report, the argument took place over the ruling party's demand to making singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in all schools and colleges across the state. 

"You have to sing Vande Mataram if you want to live in India, otherwise go to Pakistan. A true Muslim will always sing Vande Mataram," Purohit reportedly told AIMIM's Waris Pathan. 

However, Pathan refused to sing Vande Mataram and instead chanted slogans 'Hindustan Zindabad' and 'Jai Hind'.   

"A true Muslim is one who listens only to the Allah. My religion forbids me to sing Vande Mataram," he said. 

During the brawl, Purohit asked the government to impose a ban on AIMIM and to disqualify Pathan from the House over his refusal to sing the song.

However, irked by the BJP MLA's remark, Pathan sat on a dharna outside the Assembly and said, "These people are forcing me to sing Vande Mataram". 

"Nowhere in the Constitution is it written. We are being suppressed. No one can ban AIMIM. AIMIM is a nationalistic party. They are forcing me. I will not say Vande Mataram. Everybody is free to express his opinion," Pathan said.

The Madras High Court's recent ruling on the singing of 'Vande Mataram' has triggered a widespread political slugfest in Maharashtra with several parties demanding its implementation in schools and colleges of the state whereas others including AIMIM and Samajwadi Party opposing any such move.