On 14th August, a day before Independence Day, a video of Maulana Sajid Rashidi of All India Imam Association, went viral on social media in which he objected to slogans of the “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” slogan in schools.
"Bharat mata ki jai slogans wrong, govt shud take action on it" Maulana on school kids (M's) chanting bharat mata ki Jai pic.twitter.com/0qPBFfdOol
— Frontalforce 🇮🇳 (@FrontalForce) August 14, 2024
In the video message, he said, “Friends, today around 8:30-9:00 AM, I passed by Turkman Gate, where I saw a procession from Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya School celebrating the upcoming 15th August. In this procession, the school’s teachers made Muslim children chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai.’ These teachers have a ‘Sanghi’ mindset and are trying to impose their beliefs on Muslim children against their faith. I urge the government to take action against such teachers. I also advise Muslim parents to prepare their children for such events so that if someone tries to instil something in their minds that goes against our Islam and our faith, the children strongly resist it.”
It is unclear if the video is recent or if an old video has surfaced again. OpIndia could not verify video’s the release date as Rashidi’s social media accounts did not have the video.
As the video went viral, several social media users including journalists and political analysts criticised Rashidi. Journalist Ashok Shrivastav said in a post on X in Hindi, “Maulana Sajid Rashidi is saying that chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by Muslim school children on Independence Day is an insult to Islam. This is astonishing. They took 30% of India’s land by dividing the country, and now they are saying that even in the remaining India, they won’t say “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Those who find “Bharat Mata ki Jai” un-Islamic in India should move to an Islamic country like Pakistan or Bangladesh.”
स्वतंत्रता दिवस पर मुस्लिम स्कूली बच्चों द्वारा "भारत माता की जय" का नारा लगाना इस्लाम की अवमानना करना है। यह कह रहे हैं मौलाना साजिद रशीदी।
— Ashok Shrivastav (@AshokShrivasta6) August 14, 2024
गजब है। भारत का विभाजन करके भारत की 30% जमीन इन्होंने ले ली और अब कह रहे हैं कि बचे हुए भारत में भी भारत माता की जय नहीं बोलेंगे।… pic.twitter.com/EQXdMhzAJf
X user Jitendra Pratap Singh wrote, “This is not a Maulana from Pakistan; this is a Maulana from India, and he is associated with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He is saying that when he passed by Turkman Gate today, he saw a procession of children from a government school, in which Muslim children were chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” He questioned why Muslim children are being made to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Furthermore, he incited the parents of Muslim children, telling them not to send their children to any 15th August or 26th January events because “Bharat Mata ki Jai” is chanted there. Think about it: they live in this country, they benefit from this country, but they don’t love this country. They can’t even tolerate hearing chants of praise for this country. If they reach 40%, no Hindu will be able to perform any religious rituals.”
यह कोई पाकिस्तान का मौलाना नहीं है बल्कि यह भारत का मौलाना है
— 🇮🇳Jitendra pratap singh🇮🇳 (@jpsin1) August 14, 2024
और ऑल इंडिया मुस्लिम पर्सनल ला बोर्ड से जुड़ा हुआ है
यह कह रहा है कि आज जब मैं तुर्कमान गेट से निकला तब एक सरकारी स्कूल के बच्चों का जुलूस निकल रहा था जिसमें मुस्लिम बच्चे भारत माता की जय के नारे लगा रहे थे
और… pic.twitter.com/RiG6O80Rat
X user Rishi Bagree said, “Children chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ corrupts their religion.”
"बच्चों के 'भारत माता की जय' बोलने से इनका मजहब भ्रष्ट होता है"pic.twitter.com/0qKUTodldN
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) August 14, 2024
Maulana Sajid Rashidi has a controversial past
This is not the first time Maulana Sajid Rashidi has created a controversy. On 5th August, Sajid Rashidi threatened India with another partition and violence if the Waqf Act is amended. “The BJP seeks to draw political mileage by bringing one divisive issue after another. After the Ram temple, they have found new divisive issues like Kashi Vishwanath temple vs. Gyanvapi mosque and Srikrishna Janmabhoomi temple vs. Idgah at Mathura,” he said. “Just as the farmers had got the three laws repealed by sacrificing their lives, similarly now Muslims will come on the streets and fight for their rights constitutionally,” he added.
He stated that it is critical to understand Waqf. It is for the benefit of the Muslim community that the government has constitutionally granted Muslims the right to Waqf. “Right now the Muslims are silent. A significant portion of our property is owned by the state and federal governments. They (the administration) are concerned that if Muslims begin to demand their rights, things will change,” he said. Maulana Sajid Rashidi also claimed that the government was deliberately targeting the Muslim community members. “Ever since the Modi government has come to power, it has been bringing bills only to target Muslims. There is no talk about inflation and employment. The Hindus who have voted for the BJP will also have to think about what this government has done for us,” he maintained.
In February 2023, he claimed that Mahmud Ghazni attacked Somnath Temple only to stop illegal activities. Later, an FIR was lodged against him for his remarks that the Islamic tyrant Mahmud of Ghazni did not destroy Somnath Temple due to his hatred towards infidels (Kafirs) but to stop the alleged ‘wrongdoings’ that were taking place inside the temple. Following the FIR, Maulana Rashidi has issued a half-hearted apology to Somnath Trust saying it was not his intention to hurt anyone. He has also stated that his claims were based on Romila Thapar’s writings. he also added that during their 800-year rule, Muslim rulers in India had donated lands for temples and invested money to beautify those temples.
In November 2022, he threatened that India would on fire after Uttarakhand government decided to modernise madarsas. Maulana Sajid Rashidi told ANI, “Every state has a madrassa board that comes under the government. The government can order dress codes, play movies or songs, and do whatever they want in those Madarssas, and no one can stop them. However, we will not allow you to do anything in our private Madarsas, hear this out. Because Indian Muslims retain 4% of children from private madrasas to become maulvis and maulanas, if they attempt to intervene in that 4% of madrasas, all the Indian Muslims will oppose it. We will not allow them to do this.” Rashidi went on to say, “We never accept anything from the government. These are the foolish people who gave their madrassas to the government in order for the government to earn money, and now they are paying the price. That is why our great Maulavis and Ulemas advise others not to accept government funds for Madarsas.”
“We do not need anything from anyone… Do whatever you want in the government-run Madrassas. But don’t touch the private Madarsas; otherwise, India will be on fire,” Rashidi threatened.
