Ruhullah Mehdi Condemns ‘Forced Patriotism’, Says Compelling Vande Mataram Violates Religious Freedom
Srinagar MP accuses Centre of policing Muslim identity and turning nationalism into a tool of coercion.
Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday delivered a strong critique of the Union government during the Lok Sabha discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, accusing it of using nationalism to impose cultural uniformity and target Muslim identity.
Mehdi argued that patriotism cannot be measured or enforced through cultural or religious practices. He said compelling citizens to sing Vande Mataram — a song that personifies the nation as a goddess — infringes on the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
“Patriotism cannot be forced, regulated or verified through cultural rituals,” he said, stressing that no authority can demand that citizens worship in the name of nationalism or prove loyalty through any song.
The National Conference leader clarified that while he and many others hold respect for the national song and are willing to stand in its honour, singing it must remain a matter of personal choice. “Nationality may change, governments may come and go, but my faith does not change,” he said, warning that any attempt to restrict fundamental rights would be met with strong resistance.
“We fought for this nation’s freedom from outsiders; if necessary, we will fight for our freedom within this nation against anyone who denies us our constitutional rights,” he added.
Connecting the Vande Mataram debate with recent bulldozer demolitions and administrative crackdowns, Mehdi accused the government of portraying Muslims as “perpetual outsiders,” labelling dissenters as disloyal, and leaning on cultural nationalism to avoid addressing urgent issues such as unemployment and rising prices.
“When a government cannot answer questions on jobs, inflation or governance, it turns to identity,” he said. “Songs become loyalty tests, demolitions become justice, and Muslims become permanent suspects.”
Mehdi’s speech, while echoing some of the concerns earlier raised by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, offered its own sharp perspective on what he described as the growing misuse of national symbols against India’s largest minority.
