AMRITSAR, Aug. 28 -- Several Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Jagtar Singh Hawara Committee, United Sikh Students Federation and former Akal Takht Panj Pyare, on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, seeking clear and uniform Panthic guidelines on the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram.

Representatives of the groups said the issue should be examined primarily in the context of Sikh religious principles, Sikh Rehat Maryada and the community's religious rights, rather than political considerations.

The move comes months after the Union home ministry's January 28 directive mandating the playing or singing of all six stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' before the national ant...