NEW DELHI: Shafiqur Rahman Barq, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member of parliament, has refused to apologise for walking out of the Lok Sabha when the national song Vande Mataram was being played.



The MP had drawn a reprimand from Speaker Meira Kumar, who said "one honourable member walked out when Vande Mataram was being played. I take very serious view of this. I would want to know why this was done. This should never happen again."



Speaking to CNN IBN later, Barq said that he did not respect the national song. "I respect the national anthem, not the national song. I have boycotted it earlier as well. I will not apologise to the Speaker and neither will there be a letter of apology from me. As long as I am alive I will not sing the Vande Mataram, it is against our beliefs. Muslims like me will not sing the Vande Mataram, we will bow only to Allah."







