Those who sing 'Vande Mataram' are anti-India, says BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash, faces flak

Prakash is the grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar and heads the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh.

PRABHANI: Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh chief, has courted a fresh controversy by alleging that those who sing 'Vande Mataram' are anti-India.

"If I sing Jana Gana Mana then I am anti-India and if I sing Vande Mataram then I am a true Indian? Who are you to give these certificates? I allege that those who sing Vande Mataram are anti-India," Prakash said on Monday.

If I sing Jana Gana Mana then I am anti-India & if I sing Vande Matram then I am a true Indian? Who are you to give these certificates? I allege that those who sing Vande Mataram are anti-India: Prakash Ambedkar, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh. (22.10.2018) pic.twitter.com/SVHp8YKf9X — ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2018

Prakash is facing flak for politicising the issue. 

Prakash Ambedkar, a former MP from Maharashtra's Akola, was once considered as the top pick of the Left parties to contest the presidential election against the NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind, who was later elected to the top constitutional post.

Prakash Ambedkar had last month forged an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

The AIMIM chief had in August said that the move to make compulsory singing of Vande Mataram in schools and educational institutions as 'unconstitutional` and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of spreading the 'Hindutva' ideology.

The AIMIM leader also accused the BJP government of destroying secularism from the nation.