Bengaluru, May 14: BJP national general secretary C T Ravi on Saturday said those trying to make singing the national anthem a controversy are unfit to be in this country, as rendering it at any point of time should be a matter of pride.

Stating that those who are "emotionally" Indians will not make singing the national anthem a controversy, he said madrassas should voluntarily follow it, instead of doing it under instructions.

Singing the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' has been made compulsory at all madrassas in Uttar Pradesh from last Thursday.

The Registrar of the Uttar Pradesh Madrassa Education Board, had issued an order to this effect to all the District Minority Welfare Officers on May 9, but it came into effect from May 12, when regular classes began after Ramzan holidays.

Asked whether such a measure is needed in Karnataka's madrassas too, Ravi said, "It is not a matter of discussion...they have to do it voluntarily, not under instructions."

"Singing the national anthem should not become a controversy. Those making singing the national anthem a controversy are unfit to be in this country," Ravi said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said singing the national anthem at any point of time should be a matter of pride.

"If someone has to be forced to sing the national anthem, it will reflect the commitment of such people. Those who have commitment will naturally sing and respect the national anthem. Those who don't respect the national flag, national anthem, Constitution are just technically living in this country, not emotionally. Those who are emotionally Indians will not make it a controversy," he added.

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Malda (PTI): In less than a fortnight after a senior Trinamool Congress councillor was murdered in West Bengal's Malda district, a TMC worker was killed and two other party members were injured in a shootout incident in broad daylight in the same region on Tuesday, police said.

Like in the previous incident, police suspected that Tuesday's shootout was also a fallout of the party's infighting.

The deceased was identified as Ataul Haque alias Hasu Sheikh and the two injured are Bakul Sheikh, a TMC local committee president, and Esaruddin Sheikh, a senior officer said.

The incident took place in Kaliaganj area in the morning when the TMC local committee president along with party workers went to a function to inaugurate a road, an officer said.

"One of the party workers who were shot at was declared dead by doctors at the Malda Medical College and Hospital. Two others are undergoing treatment there, and their condition was stated to be critical," he said.

"We are questioning people and witnesses. So far, we have not arrested anyone in this matter," the police officer told PTI.

TMC councillor in Malda Dulal Sarkar was killed on January 2, and seven people have been arrested in this connection.