Parliament mein Vande Mataram ko lekar phir se ek garam debate chalu hui hai. Centre ki “Vande Mataram compulsory” waali push par opposition ne powerful objection raise kiya, aur zada impactful statement diya Samajwadi Party ki young MP Iqra Hasan ne. Unhone seedha kaha: “Hum Muslims Indians by choice hain, not by chance.” Yeh line instantly national debate ka centre ban gayi, kyunki isne deshbhakti ke expression par pressure dalne ki purani baat ko fir se spotlight mein la diya.
Iqra Hasan ne apni speech mein saaf message diya ki patriotism kisi ek community ka test paper nahi hona chahiye. Unka kehna tha Indian Muslims ne iss desh ko apna lia hai – faith ho ya identity, sab Constitution ke framework mein protected hai. Unhone yeh bhi spotlight kiya ki deshbhakti ki feeling jab force ki jaye, toh wo ritual ban jaati hai, emotion nahi. Unke statement ne ek narrative ko challenge kiya jo baar-baar Muslims ki loyalty par sawaal kia hai.
Political reactions predictably mixed rahe – Centre ne unki baat ko “political drama” bola, jabki opposition ne unhe “fearless and necessary voice” bataya. Social media par bhi logon ka divided response aaya. Lekin iss controversy ka core message ek hi hai: India ki strength uski diversity aur freedom of expression hai. Vande Mataram ho ya koi aur national symbol – respect tabhi meaningful banta hai jab wo dil se kia ho, zabardasti nahi. Iqra Hasan ka attitude is baat ka reminder hai ki democracy tabhi strong hoti hai jab her citizen ko apna appearance choose karne ka haq ho.
