Won’t stand up for Vande Matram because India is not a Hindu Rashtra : RJD MLA Saud Alam.

A Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader refused to support “Vande Mataram” in the Bihar legislature, stirring up controversy. He claimed that while he supported the national anthem, he did not support the national anthem because the country has not yet become a Hindu nation.

The Bihar Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session ended on Thursday, and all of its members—including chief minister Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav—stood for the Vande Mataram, with the exception of one representative from Yadav’s party.

 

On Thursday, as Vande Mataram was being performed in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, RJD MLA Saud Alam of the Thakurganj constituency refused to stand up, sparking a controversy. Saud Alam defended his decision after leaving the legislature by saying that the country has not yet become a Hindu nation and that this is why he did not stand up during the national anthem. Also from him: “Our national anthem is not Vande Mataram. I didn’t stand since Jana Gana Mana is our national anthem.”

Sanjay Kumar Singh, a BJP lawmaker from Bihar, slammed Alam and declared that Alam’s actions will not be condoned. Speaking to reporters, Singh claimed that the RJD MLA’s failure to stand in remembrance of Vande Mataram has insulted national heroes. Additionally, he stated that such individuals are not required in the assembly.

It is important to note that a leader of the RJD has previously refused to respect the national anthem. Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui had earlier declared that reciting “Vande Mataram” went against his moral convictions. Furthermore, according to Siddiqui, people who believe in a single God will never recite “Vande Mataram.”

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