Screengrab from video | Photo Credit: Twitter

Lucknow: A shocking video has come to the fore showing a cleric of a madrasa stopping students and teachers from singing the national anthem after hoisting the national flag. The incident took place at Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh. The UP Police have arrested three persons in connection with the incident.

The Madrasa Arbia Ahle Sunnat Anwaare Taiba Girls College Badgo at which the incident took place falls under the jurisdiction of Kolhui police station. On the occasion of 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday, the tricolour was hoisted but the national anthem was not sung. The video, which is now going viral on the social media, shows the Maulvi stopping the students and teachers from doing so.

“Hamare yahan rashtragan nahin hoga…najayaz hai,” the Maulana was seen as saying. He also said he was ready to sing ‘Sare Jahan Se Achcha’. However, a man in white shirt continued to resist the cleric’s attempts.

The video has angered Twitterati. It has also led to the arrest of Maulana Mohammad Zunaid Ansari, Mohammad Alzoor Rahman, and Mohammad Nizam. They were held late last night. Meanwhile, District Magistrate Amarnath Upadhaya has ordered a probe into the incident by district minorities officer Prabhat Kumar. A case has been filed against the three teachers under various sections of the IPC, including treason.

Albeit the teachers insisted on singing the national anthem, yet the Maulana did not let them do so and told the children to vacate the place. However, police said that students did sing the national anthem afterwards.

Here is the video:

Is this secular India....??

Singing national enthem is not allowed as per muslim religion is said by the the members of this Madarsha situated at maharajganj U.P....

Plz take necessary action regarding disregard to our national enthem as soon as possible... pic.twitter.com/H7k7ElFTwh — Brijendra Mishra (@brijendra_bsm) August 15, 2018

Last year, Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government had made it mandatory for madrasas in the state to hoist tricolour and chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” on Independence Day. The Islamic educational institutions were even directed to videograph August 15 celebrations. However, the directive was not welcomed by many madrasas across Uttar Pradesh.