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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced that reciting Vande Mataram will be made compulsory in all educational institutions across the state. The move, he said, aims to instil patriotism and reverence towards the motherland among students. CM announces decision at Unity March in Gorakhpur Speaking at the Ekta Yatra (Unity March) event in Gorakhpur, the chief minister emphasised that singing the national song would serve as a daily reminder of India’s unity and cultural heritage.“There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram. We will make its singing compulsory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh,” Yogi Adityanath declared. He added that expressing gratitude towards Vande Mataram is essential for all citizens. “This song should be recited and sung publicly in every school and college. We must identify and resist all factors that weaken national unity and integrity,” he said. “No new Jinnah should ever rise again” During his address, the UP CM invoked historical figures Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Mohammad Ali Jauhar, saying that those who oppose Vande Mataram insult the country’s unity and independence.“Everyone living in India should be loyal to the nation and work for its unity. We must ensure that no new Jinnah ever rises again in India,” he said, adding that divisive ideologies must be confronted and “buried before they take root.” Yogi Adityanath also warned against attempts to divide society along lines of caste, religion, or region, calling them “a conspiracy to weaken Bharat.” CM targets Congress over national song Taking a swipe at the Congress, Yogi accused the party of distorting Vande Mataram and labelling it as “communal.”“No religion or caste can be greater than the country. We must set aside beliefs that hinder national unity,” he asserted. His remarks came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Congress for allegedly removing “important stanzas” from the original version of Vande Mataram during its 1937 Faizabad session. PM Modi, speaking at an event marking 150 years of the national song, said that this act “sowed the seeds of partition” and that the same divisive ideology continues to challenge national integrity. Strengthening patriotic education Officials in Lucknow said that the education department will issue formal guidelines to implement the CM’s directive across government, aided, and private institutions. The initiative, they said, is part of the state’s broader effort to strengthen patriotic values and civic consciousness among students. The decision has drawn mixed reactions — while supporters hailed it as a unifying move promoting respect for national symbols, critics called for ensuring that such directives respect India’s pluralistic spirit.
