When Speaker Meira Kumar lost her temper over an MP walking out of Parliament during the playing of Vande Mataram, everyone wondered who he was. Now BSP MP Shafiq-ur-Rehman Burq has admitted he was the guilty MP, but says he sees no reason to apologise or explain why he showed ‘disrespect’ to the song. “I will not write any letter. Why should I write?”Burqwas reported as saying when asked if he would write a letter to the Speaker explaining why he walked out while the song was playing. The legislator also sees nothing wrong with what he did. “Of course I did the right thing. I have not acted against the constitution. The status of the national song under the constitution is not the same as that accorded to the national anthem. I completely respect the national anthem. I honour the national anthem,”Burq said. “India is a democracy, there is secularism here. Under secularism when there are 30 crore Muslims living in the country you have to be considerate towards their emotions as well,”Burq said. “I request that Muslims not be compelled to sing this song since it is against the Sharia…. the song tells people to bow before Bharat Mata,” he said.
MUSLIMS NOT BE COMPELLED TO SING VANDE MATARAM: MP
When Speaker Meira Kumar lost her temper over an MP walking out of Parliament during the playing of Vande Mataram, everyone wondered who he was. Now BSP MP Shafiq-ur-Rehman Burq has admitted he was the guilty MP, but says he sees no reason to apologise or explain why he showed ‘disrespect’ to the song.
