The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Muslim front, is set to discuss and pass a resolution in favour of the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Glory to Mother India) at its national executive to be held in Nagpur later this month.
‘Needless controversy’“We have our national executive from April 16 to 18, which will be attended by delegates from all over India. We will discuss the unnecessary controversy over Bharat Mata Ki Jai and pass a resolution to disseminate our views,” Manch convener Mohammad Afzal told The Hindu .
“There is nothing un-Islamic about the slogan and all Muslims should chant it.”
In a line that goes against the Islamic seminary Deoband’s fatwa against the slogan, Mr. Afzal said the slogan salutes the motherland, which was not the same as “worshipping” it.
Days back, Deoband had said that Muslims love “Bharat Mata” but could not worship their Maadar-e-watan (mother country) as the idea was against the Islamic emphasis on monotheism.
“Bharat Mata Ki Jai would mean Maadar-e-watan Hindustan Zindabad (glory to mother land Hindustan) in Urdu. It nowhere says a Muslim should worship the nation,” Mr. Afzal said. “And to hail the motherland is something all Muslims must do. Islam itself enjoins us to love our nation.”
Mr. Afzal sought to justify his argument by saying that “it is under the motherland that Muslims would remain buried till the Day of Judgment and this meant that they should show it greater respect than even those who are cremated.”
Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar has been mentoring the Manch, which, though technically outside the Sangh Parivar, is an organisation that aligns itself with its vision.
