MMU Urges J&K Govt to Withdraw Vande Mataram Directive

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an amalgam of Muslim religious organisations in Jammu and Kashmir headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has expressed serious concern over a government directive asking schools to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram with musical and cultural programmes.

- Observer News Service

In a statement, the MMU termed the order “coercive” and urged the administration—led by both Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah—to withdraw it immediately, saying it infringes on religious freedom and has caused “anguish among Muslims”.

The government directive, issued by the Department of Culture on October 30, cites instructions from the Union Ministries of Home Affairs and Culture. It calls for a structured yearlong celebration from November 2025 to November 2026, involving school-level performances across Jammu and Kashmir. Directors of School Education in both divisions have been designated as nodal officers to ensure full participation of students and staff.