Politicians welcome Supreme Court order on national anthem

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi wants the Modi government to change the advisory of the Home Ministry that makes it compulsory for the National Anthem to be played in cinemas before screening of any film.

Leaders of major political parties have welcomed the Supreme Court order making it mandatory for all cinema halls to play the National Anthem before a movie starts .

ASADUDDIN OWAISI the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad, has urged the Centre to get the National Anthem Act of 1971 amended. He also wants the Narendra Modi government to change the advisory of the Home Ministry that makes it compulsory for the National Anthem to be played in cinemas before screening of any film.

Talking to India Today TV, Owaisi said, "The Supreme Court order should be implemented but the question is that whether you can make somebody a patriot by this order. You can be a national but it is important that whether you are a patriot. This is a government of ultra nationalists. Those who don't agree with them are anti-nationals. The Supreme Court order means that you will have to amend the 1971 Act and the MHA Advisory."

The Supreme Court's order, making it mandatory for the audience to stand up while the National Anthem plays, has been relaxed for the differently-abled. However, the AIMIM chief asked whether those who were indisposed would also get the same relaxation. He sought to remind that a journalist was beaten up recently allegedly for not standing up during the National Anthem even after he told people he was physically challenged.

He demanded that due consideration should



be given to women who are undergoing medical treatment.

Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit president Raj Babbar has welcomed the apex court's order. He said, "This is a good thing. Our National Anthem has to be respected. The young generation should understand and should be educated about the importance of the National Anthem," he said.
Babbar said an environment has to be created to ensure that people follow the order to hilt. This is not just for singing but a matter of pride. Calling it a welcome move, he exhorted the state governments and the cinema halls to create a situation conducive to the environme.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chaudhary has greeted the Supreme Court's order on the National Anthem. She said, "It is an old practice… it is a matter of pride to stand up for a few minutes for the National Anthem and then to watch 2-3 hour long move… there's nothing wrong with it. If you can see some dumb advertisement then why can't you stand for National Anthem," she said

Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa too welcomed it and said it was a practice previously too. "National Anthem is something that a nation should respect first before start of any events. It is a very good move," he said.

Actor-turned-politician Paresh Rawal echoed the sentiments expressed in the apex court order. The BJP Lok Sabha MP said, "Bajna chahye, flag bhi dikhna chahye. Hamara rashtra gaan nahi bajega to kiska bajega? Somalia ka? (Yes, the National Anthem should play and the National Flag should also be seen. Whose national anthem should be played if not ours? Of Somalia's?)" he said.