'I can't stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram'

In a U-turn, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Avtar Singh Makkar on Wednesday said he cannot prevent Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram in schools run by the shrine management body.

A day after he asked Sikhs not to sing the National Song on its centenary on Thursday, Makkar said: "How can I stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram when I cannot even prevent SGPC-run schools. I, alone, am not powerful enough to direct all members of the community not to sing the national song."

Makkar had issued a directive on Tuesday to schools run by the SGPC not to rectite the Vande Mataram as it only 'spreads a particular religion and does not fulfill the aspirations of minorities, including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians.'

"It is a conspiracy to extend communalism in the nation," his statement said.

Shiromani Akali Dal [ Images ] (Amritsar [ Images ]) led by former parliamentarian Simranjit Singh Mann has also announced that Akali leaders would go to schools in Punjab [ Images ] and ensure that no student is forced to sing Vande Mataram.

The SGPC is controlled by SAD (Badal), which has an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ] in the state. Other Akali groups have accused former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of encouraging Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh interference with Sikh religious affairs.