'No mother greater than mother Earth,' says SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over his party's MP Shafiqur Rehman's refusal to say 'Vande Mataram' when prodded during Lok Sabha oath-taking

As a controversy broke out after the Samajwadi party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq refused to chant 'Vande Mataram' while taking oath in the lower house of the Parliament, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who was also seated in the Lok Sabha at the time of the incident has spoken on it.

Speaking to media after the oath-taking of the Lok Sabha was complete, Akhilesh Yadav said: "I am telling you that this land is my mother. Who is greater than the Mother Earth. Nobody is greater than the Earth."

SP Lok Sabha MP representing Sambhal constituency, Dr.Shafiqur Rahman Barq, refused to chant 'Vande Mataram' after reciting the pledge. He further claimed that 'Vande Mataram' was against Islam and hence he could not follow it. 

"Constitution of India zindabad. Regarding chanting Vande Mataram, it is against Islam and I cannot follow it," he said after reciting his oath.

WATCH: SP MP Shafiqur Rehman refuses to say 'Vande Mataram' when prodded during Lok Sabha oathtaking, triggers chaos

Visuals show Barq reciting his oath as per protocol. But before he proceeds to sign the register he added the above statement which is greeted by loud chants of 'Vande Mataram' from the other Lok Sabha MPs. In between the chants, he forgot to sign the register and was prompted by others for the same. Hamirpur Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur who is seen seated directly behind the podium is seen voicing his disapproval to Barq calling 'Vande Mataram' anti-Islam. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is also seen seated during the entire incident.

WATCH: Rahul Gandhi Forgets To Sign The Register After Taking Oath As MP In The 17th Lok Sabha, Gets Called Back

Earlier in the day, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was greeted by chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' as he took oath into the lower parliamentary house.