PTI
Bangalore, Sep 6: Rendition of "Vande Mataram" has been made compulsory in schools and colleges in the BJP-JDS combine-ruled Karnataka tomorrow to mark the centenary celebrations of the national song.
The state Public Instruction Department has already issued a circular in August last week making compulsory the singing of the song at 11 am tomorrow in educational institutions with no exceptions made.
Making the government's position clear, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti had said last week that "Vande Mataram" was a national song and no caste or communal colour should be given to it.
Compulsory singing of "Vande Mataram" has not generated any major controversy in Karnataka.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has, however, come out against the directive to schools, saying the song inspires worship of the nation and the nature and therefore goes against monotheism. According to its Secretary for Karnataka and Goa Mohammed Usuf, as per monotheism, only the creator can be worshipped, not his creations.
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