New Delhi: Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi criticised the Union government in the Lok Sabha for using patriotism as a tool to police Muslim identity. He spoke during the discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. He said the State is pressuring citizens to prove loyalty through cultural practices linked to religion.
Ruhullah said patriotism is a personal commitment. He argued that it cannot be forced through songs or symbolic tests. He said Vande Mataram carries religious imagery and compulsory singing excludes minorities who follow different beliefs. He noted that respect for national symbols must remain voluntary.
He said the Constitution protects every citizen’s right to faith and conscience. He added that this protection includes the right to decline any act that conflicts with personal belief. He said no government has the authority to demand worship in the name of national identity. He stated that citizens can respect the national song while refusing to recite it.
Ruhullah said Muslims fought for India’s independence. He warned that Muslims will also defend their freedoms if these rights are restricted. He said attempts to impose cultural conformity create fear and depict Muslims as outsiders.
He linked the push to enforce Vande Mataram with demolition drives in several states. He said these actions form a pattern that diverts attention from unemployment and inflation. He said dissent is being framed as disloyalty and national symbols are being used to avoid accountability.
His remarks aligned with concerns earlier voiced by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi. Ruhullah concluded his intervention by saying governments shift to identity politics when they fail to respond to questions on governance.
