Bareilly’s Barelvi madrasas on Tuesday openly defied the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive that the national anthem be mandatorily sung at all such Islamic educational institutions across the state on the occasion of Independence Day. While students at the Manzar-e-Islam – the biggest Barelvi madrasa in the city – hoisted the Tricolor in the presence of teachers, they did not chant the national anthem. “Traditionally, we do not sing the national anthem during Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations. The order, however, was followed by a few government-funded Barelvi madrasas in the city. Ahmed Faraaz, a 14-year-old student at the Manzar-e-Islam madrasa, said he remembers the national anthem verbatim.

Source: Hindustan Times August 15, 2017 07:10 UTC