Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chairman Ameen Khandwani on Thursday said recital of the national song Vande Mataram should not be made compulsory for Muslims.
Khandwani, however, insisted that he has full respect for the national song, which he said was about worshipping the motherland.
His statement came when his views were sought by reporters in Mumbai on the opposition to recital of the national song in Malegaon and Bhiwandi civic bodies.
The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP combine
had vehemently raised the issue in the just concluded monsoon session of
the Maharashtra legislature.