BJP condemned the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind's opposition to the recitation of Vande Mataram by Muslims and said the presence of Home P Chidambaram in its general assembly legitimised the resolution adopted endorsing a previous edict against singing of the national song.

"We begin our programmes by singing Vande Mataram. But the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind function started with a protest against the national song," BJP national vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters in New Delhi.

He demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should explain the compulsions behind the home minister to attend the programme after the resolution against singing of Vande Mataram was passed.

Naqvi said the presence of Chidambaram at the programme "gave legitimacy to the resolution...it is a matter of concern."

He claimed that the presence of a member of the Union Cabinet proved that Congress and the UPA government have a weak policy on terror and separatism.

Attacking the home minister, Naqvi said Chidambaram should have at least said something about the resolution in his speech. "I have a copy of his speech. He has mentioned about Babri mosque demolition and communal riots, but there is no mention of the resolution against Vande Mataram."