Mumbai, Feb. 13 -- Raza Academy President Muhammad Saeed Noori on Friday termed the Union Government's recent directive making the recitation of Vande Mataram mandatory as illegal.

Speaking to ANI, Saeed Noori stated that forcing citizens to participate in rituals forbidden by their respective faiths would lead to widespread resentment.

He said, "This law being made regarding Vande Mataram or the government being forced to make its recitation compulsory and mandatory is illegal. In our country, people of all faiths have the freedom to adhere to their faith and follow it. This is against that as well and will create grief and anger among the people, and they are being forced to do things forbidden in our religion."

"This government want...