Meerut, Nov. 16 -- Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Iqbal Mehmood has said that while the national anthem must be sung wholeheartedly, singing Vande Mataram should not be mandatory. The legislator made the remarks on Saturday during an interaction with the media at Mia Sarai. Responding to questions, Mehmood stated that if the state government formally issues directives to sing Vande Mataram in educational institutions, teachers would be obliged to comply. "It is their government, and they can issue any order. But Vande Mataram is not compulsory. If someone wishes to sing it, they can. If not, there is no issue," he said. Meanwhile, SP MP from Sambhal Ziaur Rahman Barq recently said, "We honour both the national anthem and Vande Mataram, but no citizen can be forced to sing them, as the Constitution grants everyone freedom." He was speaking at the residence of Sangeeta Yadav, former district president of the SP Mahila Sabha, on Thursday....