Vande Mataram compulsory recitation: AIMIM's Waris Pathan invokes Article 25
Synopsis
AIMIM's Waris Pathan didn't just oppose a bill — he reframed the entire debate. By invoking Article 25, citing a Supreme Court precedent, and challenging BJP and RSS leaders to recite Vande Mataram without a teleprompter, Pathan turned a legislative move into a direct confrontation over the boundaries of patriotism, religious freedom, and constitutional rights.
Key Takeaways
AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan on 28 July opposed making Vande Mataram recitation compulsory, citing Article 25 of the Constitution.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 24 July , seeking statutory protection for the national song.
Pathan argued that specific lines in Vande Mataram amount to shirk under Islamic belief and cannot be recited by Muslims.
He distinguished between the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' — which AIMIM recites fully — and the national song, noting the Supreme Court has not made the latter mandatory.
Pathan accused the BJP and RSS of using the issue to intimidate minorities and questioned their own familiarity with the song.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) spokesperson Waris Pathan on Tuesday, 28 July sharply opposed any legislative move to make recitation of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory, asserting that while Muslims honour the national song, specific lines within it conflict with core Islamic tenets and cannot be recited without amounting to shirk — the gravest sin in Islam. His remarks directly challenged the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 24 July.
The Bill That Triggered the Debate
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced in the upper house of Parliament, proposes to extend the same legal and statutory protection currently afforded to the national anthem — 'Jana Gana Mana' — to the national song 'Vande Mataram'. The move has reignited a long-standing constitutional debate over the distinction between the two and whether citizens can be legally compelled to recite the latter.
What Pathan Said
Pathan drew a clear line between respect and compulsion. 'I have always said that we respect Vande Mataram. We honour it. But there are some lines in Vande Mataram which a Muslim cannot recite. If those lines are spoken, it becomes shirk according to Islamic belief. We do not worship anyone other than Allah, nor will we ever; we would rather die than do so. And this is my constitutional right under Article 25, which the Supreme Court has also upheld,' Pathan said.
He escalated his criticism with pointed rhetoric directed at those who would mandate recitation: 'I respect my nation, but if I do not recite it (Vande Mataram), then what will you do? Hang me? Shoot me? The BJP and RSS have nothing to do but to threaten people,' he said, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of using the issue to intimidate minorities.
The Constitutional Distinction
Pathan was emphatic that AIMIM's position does not extend to the national anthem. 'There is a difference between the National Anthem and Vande Mataram. We recite the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana with all our heart and soul and respect it. We salute the Tricolour. The Supreme Court has held that the national anthem is mandatory, whereas the national song is not. But if you force something upon us, it would be unconstitutional and against democracy,' he said.
This distinction has legal grounding: the Supreme Court of India has previously held that 'Jana Gana Mana' carries mandatory standing obligations, while 'Vande Mataram' does not carry equivalent legal compulsion. Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practise, and propagate religion.
Patriotism, Muslim Sacrifices, and the RSS Counter-Charge
Pathan also pushed back against the broader narrative that refusal to recite certain lines equates to anti-nationalism. He argued that the Muslim community's contributions to India's independence movement are routinely overlooked in such debates. 'If a Muslim's religion is not allowing them to recite these things, then you start making allegations that they are not patriotic, that they are not nationalist. This is completely wrong. Our people have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this country. Will you not talk about the RSS? How many BJP leaders know Vande Mataram without reading it from a teleprompter?' he said.
The remarks are likely to intensify political debate as Parliament continues its session and the amendment bill moves through legislative scrutiny.
Point of View
But the 2026 amendment bill gives it fresh legal teeth — and Pathan's response is a calculated provocation designed to shift the terrain from sentiment to constitutional rights. What mainstream coverage often misses is that the Supreme Court has already drawn this line: the national anthem carries legal compulsion, the national song does not. The bill, if passed, would test that precedent directly. More pointed is Pathan's teleprompter jibe — it redirects the patriotism question onto the very legislators pushing the bill. Whether that lands as a legitimate challenge or political deflection will depend on which side of the debate India's voters are on come the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026?
It is a proposed legislation introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 24 July 2026 that seeks to extend the same legal and statutory protection currently enjoyed by the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' to the national song 'Vande Mataram'. If passed, it could create legal consequences for disrespecting or refusing to recite the national song.
Why does AIMIM's Waris Pathan oppose compulsory recitation of Vande Mataram?
Pathan argues that specific lines in Vande Mataram conflict with Islamic belief, amounting to shirk — worshipping someone other than Allah — which is prohibited in Islam. He invoked Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, and cited Supreme Court precedent upholding this right.
Is reciting Vande Mataram legally mandatory in India?
No. The Supreme Court of India has held that the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' carries mandatory obligations, but 'Vande Mataram' as the national song does not carry the same legal compulsion. The 2026 amendment bill, if enacted, could alter this legal landscape.
What distinction does Pathan draw between the national anthem and Vande Mataram?
Pathan states that AIMIM fully recites 'Jana Gana Mana' with respect and salutes the Tricolour, but maintains that compelling citizens to recite Vande Mataram — particularly lines deemed religiously problematic — would be unconstitutional and anti-democratic.
What are the broader political implications of this debate?
The controversy pits religious freedom under Article 25 against legislative moves to elevate the national song's legal status. Pathan's remarks also draw in the BJP and RSS, accusing them of using patriotism as a tool to intimidate minorities, which is likely to intensify political polarisation as the bill moves through Parliament.
