Vande Mataram row: BJP MLA enters in altercation with AIMIM leader, says 'Go to Pakistan'

New Delhi: Sparks flew in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Friday as ruling BJP MLAs attacked Samajwadi Party member Abu Asim Azmi who has opposed a demand for making singing of Vande Mataram mandatory in schools and colleges in the state. Azmi, head of the SP's Maharashtra unit, and Waris Pathan, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA from Mumbai, on Thursday opposed senior BJP MLA Raj Purohit's demand for making singing of Vande Mataram compulsory. Citing the recent order of the Madras High Court, which made singing of the national song mandatory in schools across Tamil Nadu atleast twice a week, Purohit had said that the singing of Vande Mataram should be made mandatory in schools and colleges and the state government come up with a policy in this regard. Purohit, chief whip of the BJP in the Assembly, had also demanded that singing of the national song be made compulsory for everybody at the beginning of any public event and the National Anthem at its conclusion. Azmi told reporters last night that he would not sing Vande Mataram even if he is "thrown out of the country", while Pathan had said he would not sing it "even if a revolver is put to my head". Raising the issue in the House today, BJP member Anil Gote said, "There should not be any opposition to Vande Mataram. It is a patriotic song and it should not be opposed by people like Abu Azmi." Another BJP member Eknath Khadse said people of all faiths used to recite Vande Mataram during the Independence struggle. Azmi maintained that he was against the demand for making singing of Vande Mataram compulsory.