Celebrate Independence Day but don’t sing national anthem, Bareilly qazi asks Barelvi madrasas

After the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Shiksha Parishad issued a circular on Friday directing all madrasas affiliated to it to unfurl the national flag and recite the national anthem on August 15, the Jamat Raza-E-Mustafa has said that the Bareilly qazi has asked the Barelvi madrasas to celebrate the I-Day but not sing the national anthem.

"Asjad Raza Khan, the Bareilly qazi, has asked the Barelvi madrasas to celebrate the I-Day, but not sing the national anthem. It's a 'tughlaqi bayaan' by the Yogi Government. Some words in the national anthem reek of unfaithfulness towards our Allah. We will definitely celebrate the Independence Day, but will not sing the national anthem in the madrasas," Jamat Raza-E-Mustafa spokesperson Nasir Qureshi told ANI.

The Uttar Pradesh Madarsa Shiksha Parishad has also issued a circular in this regard and asked all madrasas affiliated to it to comply with its orders.

The circular has stated that the flag hoisting and recitation of the National Anthem will take place at 8 am and the entire ceremony be captured using still cameras and video cameras. Following the ceremony homage will be paid to the soldiers and martyrs of the freedom struggle. It also calls for holding cultural programmes the theme of which will be national unity. Sports activities will also be held.

Madarsa students have been asked to sing patriotic songs and discuss the history of August 15 and the freedom fighters.