A top Muslim body today asked members of the community not to recite 'Vande Mataram' on the grounds that some verses of the national song are against the tenets of Islam, sparking condemnation from the BJP.

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind's opposition to the recitation of the song came when it supported seminary Darul Uloom's 'fatwa' (edict) which opposes any prayer involving the song.

"The fatwa of Darul Uloom (opposing recitation of Vande Mataram) is correct," said one of the 25 resolutions passed today at its 30th general session in Deoband in the presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Darul Uloom's fatwa department had issued the edict in 2006 describing recitation of Vande Mataram as anti-Islamic.

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said the resolution is not acceptable and it is against Constitutional provisions.

"During the freedom struggle, it was a motivational song. It should be sung by every patriot," he said.

The resolution, which was adopted by over 10,000 clerics from across the country, said, "The judgement of the Supreme Court also clearly states that nobody can be compelled to sing Vande Mataram."

It also expressed deep concern over the communal hatred and violence exploiting the issue.

"We love and respect the mother, but do not worship her...The house demands that the issue of Vande Mataram should not be deliberately raised for causing communal discord and threat to law and order," said the resolution, which sparked a sharp reaction from other groups which burnt the effigy of Darul Deoband at some places.

The resolution also condemned the exploitation of Vande Mataram for targetting Muslims.

"Patriotism does not require singing of Vande Mataram. We love our country and have proved this several times, but Vande Mataram violates our faith in monotheism that is the foundation of Islam," the resolution said.

The BJP also seized on the approval of resolution to attack Chidambaram saying his presence has legitimised Jamiat's decision.

Its national vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the presence of Chidambaram at the programme "gave legitimacy to the resolution... It is a matter of concern."

Naqvi demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh explain the compulsions behind Chidambaram to attend the programme after the resolution against singing of Vande Mataram was passed.

"We begin our programmes by singing Vande Mataram. But the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind function started with a protest against the national song," Naqvi told reporters in New Delhi.

Naqvi said Chidambaram should have at least said something about the resolution in his speech. "I have a copy of his speech. He has mentioned about Babri mosque demolition and communal riots, but there is no mention of the resolution against Vande Mataram."

In Lucknow, BJP state unit president Ramapati Ram Tripathi said the protest against Vande Mataram was "anti-national and the presence of the Union Home Minister was condemnable".

The Jamiat resolution said, "We love and respect the mother, but do not worship her... The house demands that the issue of Vande Mataram should not be deliberately raised for causing communal discord and threat to law and order."

The resolution also condemned what it called the exploitation of Vande Mataram for targetting Muslims.

The Jamiat also attacked the UPA government and asked it to stop making "lucrative promises" to minorities and immediately implement the recommendations of the Sachar committee report.

The body also adopted a series of resolutions asking the UPA government to stop interfering in minorities affairs, including tampering with madrasa education system.

"We demand from the UPA government to implement the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Commission recommendations so that maximum number of people are benefited," a resolution said.

Jamiat opposed the government's plan to set up a Central Madrasa Board, saying it was yet "another attempt by the government to interfere in the madrasa education system.

"The government must avoid setting up Madrasa Board," it warned.

It also demanded government to make a law against communal riots and to secure Waqf properties.

The resolutions opposed amendment in article 377 and 33 per cent reservation for women, calling it "unnecessary" as well as "unacceptable".

The Jamiat further condemned suicide bombings saying it take lives of innocent people.

The concluding day of the three-day session was also attended by CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury and yoga guru Ramdev, who demonstrated his skills to thousands of Muslim clerics.

Darul Uloom had issued a fatwa in favour of yoga after some clerics last year banned Muslims from practising it.

Also See: Vande Mataram: FAQ