Representative image

DEHRADUN: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) senior leader Indresh Kumar has said that all madrassas in the country would "for the first time" hoist tricolour, sing the national anthem as well as Vande Mataram during the Independence Day celebrations this year.

Kumar was in Uttarakhand to participate in a series of events organized by Rashtriya Suraksha Jagran Manch in Mussoorie on Saturday. Speaking exclusively with the TOI in Dehradun , Kumar said, “The Muslim Rashtriya Manch has been roped in to implement this (hoisting of tricolour) in all madrassas. Also, there would be events to tell students about the contributions of our freedom fighters during the Independence movement.”

Kumar is the margdarshak of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch which is devoted to the cause of bringing the community close to the nationalist ideology.

The hill state has over 700 madrassas, over 300 of them registered with the state government. Uttarakhand Madrassa Board chairman Bilal Rehman said, “A formal communication about hoisting of the tricolour would be sent to all the madrassas in Uttarakhand. Our main idea is to educate children about the significance of our Independence Day and also about the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country.”

The Independence Day celebrations would be held in all madrassas from August 12 to August 15.

“I have appealed to the Muslim community leaders to hoist the tricolour in their houses, colonies and shops. During the Independence Day celebrations, they should also sing the national anthem, Vande Mataram and also pay homage to our freedom fighters,” said Kumar.

Quoting a Quranic verse, Kumar said, “According to the Quran, for Muslims, love for the country they are living is half faith while the rest of the matter forms the other half.”

Reacting sharply to the development, Kanpur-based cleric Mufti Hanif Barkati Barelvi said, “We have been celebrating our country’s Independence Day every year. Our community doesn’t need any certificate from anyone to prove our patriotism.”

