Ahmedabad, Sep 8 (IANS) When more than 100 Muslims got together to sing Vande Mataram in the minority-dominated Juhapura locality in Ahmedabad Thursday afternoon, they had a point to prove.

The incantation of the national song took place in the open, beside the busy national highway with hundreds of onlookers who did not participate in the singing and passed by with a sarcastic smile.

However, for those who organised the chorus singing of Vande Mataram - to mark the culmination of the nationwide centennial celebrations the national song - it was a reconfirmation of their national pride.

While a section of the Muslim community has opposed Vande Mataram on religious grounds, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised them for not paying due respect to the national song.

"We want to convey the message that we can sing Vande Mataram. Muslims are not even a bit less nationalist than those who ask us to prove our credentials," said Nadeem Saiyad, the programme organiser.

"Whenever such issue arises, we find ourselves in dilemma. We fear being branded anti-national if we don't express this cardboard nationalism. On the other hand, there are fatwas (religious rulings) asking Muslims not to participate in such activities," he added.

"We know the issuance of fatwas on such an issue is the root cause of the problem, but Hindutva forces always provoke (Muslim) religious leaders to act in this manner," said Dilawar Tirmizi, another organiser.

Noorjahan, a community worker in an NGO, participated in the programme albeit a bit unwillingly. She said she had to attend the programme as it was organised by a sister organisation.