Kolkata: The West Bengal government has ordered that “Vande Mataram” must be sung during assembly prayers at all madrasas with immediate effect, an official notification from the Directorate of Madrasah Education said.
The directive, issued about a week after the state’s BJP-led administration made the national song compulsory in all schools, covers government model madrasas, government-aided madrasas, approved Shishu Shiksha Kendras, Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras and recognised unaided madrasas under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department. The notification states: “Singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory.”
A senior department official said the move aims to standardise assembly practices across institutions under its remit. “The order has been issued with the approval of the competent authority and is to be implemented with immediate effect,” the official added. The notification was circulated to district magistrates, district inspectors of schools, the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education and other senior officials for action.
Last week, the state government directed all state-run and aided schools to make singing Vande Mataram part of morning assemblies, instructing heads of institutions to ensure every student participates. The move follows the Union government’s proposal to strengthen laws protecting national symbols, including an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, that would make obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence.
(Inputs from PTI)