Vande Mataram directive voluntary: Arjun

Varanasi: Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on Sunday said the Central directive for the recitation of Vande Mataram in educational institutions was not mandatory.

The directive that came during a celebration to mark the national song's centenary on September 7 was "voluntary in nature", Singh told a gathering at an academic institution in Varanasi.

The recitation of the song was aimed at paying tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs, he said.

"The song should not be viewed otherwise," Singh said referring to protests by the Samajwadi Party and some Muslim organisations over the directive.

On Saturday, Singh had said in Mirzapur that he did not think Muslims should have any objection to reciting the song.

Earlier, addressing a seminar on "The Role of Youth in Nation Building" at the Benaras Hindu University campus, Singh paid tribute to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 62nd birth anniversary and described him as the "pioneer of the scientific and technological advancement in India in the past two decades."

"Rajiv Gandhi was the architect of the country's economic and scientific revolution and had taken the students and youth along for realising his vision to make the country a world leader," he said.

"It will be a fitting tribute to him if the youths dedicate themselves in the service of our country," the Minister said.

Meanwhile, about 20 ABVP workers were arrested for trying to show black flag to the Minister ouside Swatantrata Bhawan in BHU campus while he was addressing a seminar organised by the National Students Union of India (NSUI) local unit.

The BHU security personnel and policemen batoncharged the students who were shouting slogans against the Minister to register their protest over NCERT textbooks allegedly describing some freedom fighters as "terrorists".

They were also demanding restoration of the students' union in the prestigious Central university.

The protesters were arrested and taken to the police lines from where they were released later, police said.

Another group of about 40-50 students of a social organisation 'Pragatisheel Chhatra Sabha' also staged a protest in the campus and distributed pamphalets demanding implementation of reservation for other backward classes in higher education institutions, restoration of the students union and reduction in fee hike in the university, they said.