Vande Mataram means 'bowing down to Mother India.'
Muslims do not bow down to anyone other than God.
So Muslims refuse to say Vande Mataram. Perfectly reasonable.
Just because they don't say vande mataram it doesn't mean they're any less nationalist. It simply means they won't mix religion with politics. This is how it should be. Secular nationalism means you work for the nation, defend the nation. Religious nationalism means you identify a country (India) with a specific religion (Hinduism). Very wrong.
Most people obsessed with vande mataram are religious nationalists, not secular nationalists. A secular nationalist doesn't have to say vande mataram or any slogan which goes against their religion.
Of course, most 'patriotic' people here will start abusing me. But even they know I am right.
Muslims do not bow down to anyone other than God.
So Muslims refuse to say Vande Mataram. Perfectly reasonable.
Just because they don't say vande mataram it doesn't mean they're any less nationalist. It simply means they won't mix religion with politics. This is how it should be. Secular nationalism means you work for the nation, defend the nation. Religious nationalism means you identify a country (India) with a specific religion (Hinduism). Very wrong.
Most people obsessed with vande mataram are religious nationalists, not secular nationalists. A secular nationalist doesn't have to say vande mataram or any slogan which goes against their religion.
Of course, most 'patriotic' people here will start abusing me. But even they know I am right.