All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on 24 October said that standing during national anthem cannot be a test of someone’s patriotism.
“Why one should show patriotism in the cinema hall? What Supreme Court has said is absolutely right and the observation of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud is correct. Standing during national anthem cannot be a test of someone’s patriotism. One can stand on official occasions like 15 August, 26 January, etc.”Owaisi told ANI.
The court also observed that not singing National Anthem at the movie theatres was not a sign of anti-nationalism.
The court, on November 30, 2016, had made it mandatory for movie halls to play the National Anthem before the screening of movies.
It had later clarified that movie watchers would not be obliged to stand for the anthem if it is part of the film that is being screened.
There have since been numerous incidents where people have been harassed at movie halls for not standing during the Anthem.
The move has since attracted controversy, with arguments pitched online – both in favour of and against the move.
Earlier, Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra hinted on Monday that it may modify its 2016 verdict and make it optional for cinema halls to play the National anthem.
The top court also asked the Centre to consider amending the national flag code if it wanted to enforce the playing of the national anthem in cinema halls across the country.
In November 2016, the court passed an order, saying, “All the cinema halls in India shall play the National Anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the National Anthem.”
On Monday, Chief Justice Misra said the court “may modify its order and may replace the word “shall” with “may.” Until then the November order will be in operation”.
During the hearing, one of the judges on the bench, Justice DY Chandrachud, asked Attorney General KK Venugopal whether everyone “should wear our patriotism on our sleeves?”
The court was hearing a petition against the November order filed by the Kodungalloor Film Society in Kerala.
Responding on behalf of the government, Venugopal said the playing of the national anthem fostered national unity in a vast and diverse country like India, and referred to the fundamental duties enshrined in the constitution. The attorney general also opposed recalling of the order by the top court.
