Yesterday, on the 72nd Independence Day of India a video surfaced where one would see a Maulvi refusing the sing the national anthem while the flag was being hoisted at a Madarsa. In the video, one person is seen arguing with the Maulvis present. After the flag hoisting, the person in the video insists that the national anthem is sung. The Maulvis, in turn, say ‘Humare yahah aisa nahi hota (these things don’t happen here)”. The Maulvi then asks rhetorically if they are Muslims at all, perhaps implying that singing the national anthem is against the tenets of Islam and a true Muslim wouldn’t sing the national anthem.
https://twitter.com/anshpatrkaar/status/1029764029953191936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It has now been confirmed that the incident happened in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj area, in Kolhui police station’s jurisdiction at a Madarsa called Arbiya Ahle Girls Malangdihawa Badgo. According to initial reports, the police had already arrested on Junaid Ansari and his three accomplices were absconding. According to Jagran, District officer Amarnath Upadhyay had said that the culprits will soon be caught and the strictest action will be initiated against them.
News18 Hindi also reached out to the Maulvis in different Madrasas. When asked to recite the national anthem they said he didn’t know it fully.
The Maharahganj police tweeted a statement this morning stating that their information is that the National Anthem was sung later at the Madarsa in question. However, if the investigation reveals that it wasn’t, then strict action will be taken against the culprits.
https://twitter.com/maharajganjpol/status/1029787997514821632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Maharajganj police later tweeted saying that three people in connection with the case have been arrested.
https://twitter.com/maharajganjpol/status/1029940663318499328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This phenomenon is not new. Even last on Independence Day, may Madrasas had refused to sing the National Anthem. Last year, The students at Manzar-e-Islam which is the biggest madarsa in Bareilly hoisted the Tiranga but did not sing the national anthem.