New Delhi

Amidthe controversy over singing of 'Vande Mataram', NCP-SP MP Fauzia Khan on Thursday said that singing the national song goes "against my religious beliefs".

Her reactions came a day after two Congress councillors, Fauzia Sheikh Aleem and Rubina Iqbal, refused to sing the national song during proceedings in the Indore Municipal Corporation. Aleem reportedly insisted on being shown the specific statute or law that makes singing of 'Vande Mataram' mandatory inside the civic body.

Fauzia Khan told media: "Had I been there, I, too, would not have sung it, as it goes against my religious beliefs. I would have stood there respectfully and upheld the law."

She emphasised that no one, particularly a person belonging to a different faith, can be compelled to sing the song, "given that our Constitution guarantees religious freedom".

"The coercion currently being exercised runs contrary to this principle," Khan contended.