A video of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is circulating on the internet in which she can be seen singing the national anthem and standing halfway of the anthem during a press conference on Wednesday in Mumbai. She then is seen sitting again finishing the anthem abruptly. The BJP, meanwhile, has slammed the TMC supremo for insulting the national anthem.
As per a report by news agency ANI, a Mumbai BJP leader has also filed a police complaint against Banerjee for "showing utter disrespect to the national anthem" by singing the national anthem in a sitting position and then "abruptly stopping after 4 or 5 verses.”
Ms Banerjee on Wednesday was in Mumbai for a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar to make a bid for unifying opposition parties against the ruling BJP at the Centre.
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Following Ms Banerjee’s act, several BJP leaders came out criticising her and called it an ‘insult’ to the national anthem. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared the video clip of Banerjee from the conference and called it a “mutilated version” of India’s national anthem. "Our national anthem is one of the most powerful manifestation of our national identity. The least people holding public office can do is not demean it. Here is a mutilated version of our national anthem sung by Bengal CM. Is India’s opposition so bereft of pride and patriotism?,” tweeted Malviya.
BJP West Bengal chief Dr Sukanta Majumdar also took to Twitter to ask if Mamta Banerjee did the act knowingly? He wrote: "Bengal CM @MamataOfficial sitting at a constitution post insults National Anthem at a gathering in Mumbai. Doesn't she know proper National Anthem etiquette or is she insulting knowingly?"
Meanwhile, sharing the 16 seconds clip that showed CM Banerjee singing the national anthem, the BJP’s West Bengal unit tweeted saying, "Today, as a Chief Minister, she has insulted the culture of Bengal, the national anthem and the country, and Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore!”
Maharashtra BJP leader Pratik Karpe too slammed her and said, "Isn't this demeaning National Anthem? What were the so-called intellectuals present doing when CM Mamata started the National Anthem in a sitting position. Not only that, then she went ahead and abruptly stopped it in between."
No comment has been given by any TMC leader yet.
The alleged video is from the PM's interaction with the members of civil society.
Several notable personalities had participated in the interaction including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon, noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, social activist Medha Patkar, director Mahesh Bhatt, actor Richa Chadha, actor Swara Bhasker and stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui.
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While interacting with the civil society members in Mumbai, Mamata Banerjee said, "If most of the time you stay overseas, how will politics be done? Politics demands continuous endeavor. I want the federal structure to be strong. And it is better if all the regional parties walk together. Regional parties build up the national party. If all the regional parties are together then it is a very easy game to defeat BJP."
Banerjee is on a two-day Mumbai visit.
"There are various regional parties in the states in power who are afraid of BJP keeping CBI, ED, and others in mind. The way we fight BJP, others cannot. Our strategy is to fight for all people, every section of society with special attention to the poor. I will fight till alive," said the Bengal CM.
On Tuesday, the TMC chief met leaders of the Shiv Sena, which is the biggest constituent of Maharashtra’s ruling alliance that also includes the NCP and Congress.