The Vande Mataram controversy has spilled over to Andhra Pradesh with the Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Fareeduddin saying that the singing of the national song should not be made mandatory in minority-run educational institutions.

The state government has already issued an order asking the authorities of all educational institutions to organise the mass singing of the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram by all the students at 11 am on Thursday to mark the centenary of the national song.

The School Education Department has asked the headmasters and headmistresses of the schools, including those belonging to the minorities, to ensure that the orders are complied with.

Fareeduddin felt that as far as the minority educational institutions and madrassas are concerned, the singing of the national song should be left to their choice. But the Education Department officials said that the orders were issued in the state as per the directive of the Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh [Images] asking the students in all educational institutions to recite the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram on September 7.

However, the Federation of AP Minority Educational Institutions has taken exception to the circular issued by these the education departments.

Federation general secretary Zafar Javeed said, "You cannot impose whatever you like on the minority institutions, which are established with specific aims and objectives to cater to the educational needs of religious minorities. They enjoy constitutional safeguards against imposition of unreasonable conditions or restrictions on them," he said.

"Something that hurts the sentiments or interests of the minorities cannot be allowed. The circulars on Vande Mataram to minority-run institutions go against the secular fabric of the country. If some institutions want to allow their students to recite Vande Mataram, it is their choice but this cannot be made mandatory for everyone. This is the categorical stand of our Federation, which is the apex body of minority institutions," Javeed added.

"Worshipping of the land or the deity is strictly prohibited in Islam. However, nothing stops the Muslims from reciting something in praise of their motherland. We would suggest that the minority-run institutions and madrassas alternatively arrange for the mass singing of 'Sare Jahan se Achcha Hindustan Hamara', which is in praise of the country, instead of Vande Mataram on September 7. Muslims are as patriotic as their brethren from other communities.