The call by a top Muslim body to members of the community not to recite ‘Vande Mataram’ fuelled a political row today with the Shiv Sena saying those opposed to the national song should go to Pakistan.

The Congress said the issue of Vande Mataram is a sensitive one and urged political leaders not to rake up a controversy, a day after Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind in a resolution endorsed a decree by a prominent Islamic seminary at Deoband in Uttar Pradesh against the recital of “Vande Mataram”, “This is a very sensitive issue. It is our national song. And there are also religious sentiments attached with people. Keeping in mind all these facts, the issue should not be made controversial,” party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad said.

Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray in hard hitting remarks said, “If you don’t want to salute your motherland, then who do you salute? What is the shame in saluting Bharatmata? Those who do not want to salute Bharatmata should go to Pakistan or Bangladesh. There is no place for such traitors in India.” Stating that such decrees created tensions between Hindus and Muslims, he asked Shiv Sainiks to counter the call and put up “Vande Mataram” boards all over Maharashtra.

Samajwadi Party said BJP should not politicise the issue as Muslims had “religious compulsions” against reciting the national song.

“We should find a middle path. Muslims are not against Vande Mataram but have religious compulsions against singing it,” SP General Secretary Amar Singh said.

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said Muslims should denounce the resolution while VHP leader Praveen Togadia said it was anti-national.