New Delhi: The Supreme Court today directed that cinema halls across the country must play the national anthem before the screening of a film and people should stand up as a mark of respect.

The court also directed that the national flag should be shown on screen when the anthem is played. “People must feel this is my country and this is my motherland,” a bench of justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said while stressing that it is the duty of every citizen of the country to show respect to the national anthem and the flag.

“At the root of protocol for national anthem, is respect for national identity, integrity and constitutional patriotism,” the bench said while directing the Centre that the order should be given effect in a week’s time and be circulated to all States and Union Territories through chief secretaries.

It also said no person should take commercial benefits by playing the anthem and that it should not be dramatised.

The apex court said the anthem should not be printed or displayed on undesirable objects, and also barred it from being played on variety shows and its abridged version anywhere.

Directing that its order be shown in electronic and print media and be followed in letter and spirit, the court said, “Time has come when people should feel they live in a nation” and “even in Shastras, nationalism was accepted.”

The court’s directions came on a PIL filed by Shyam Narayan Chouksey seeking directions that the national anthem should be played in cinema halls across the country before a film begins and proper norms and protocol be fixed regarding its playing and singing at official functions and the programmes where constitutional dignitaries are present.

The apex court had last month issued notice to the Centre asking it to specify what would constitute disrespect to the national anthem.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has hit back at BJP national president Amit Shah for calling his government the most corrupt in the country. He said Shah escaped going to jail in a murder case only because Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.

On the sidelines of the BengaluruITe.biz event, Siddaramaiah alleged that “Shah barely escaped from the clutches of the CBI in a murder case. He would have been behind bars if Modi had failed to become the PM.”

Later, while addressing the OBC Ekta Morcha in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said, “People like Shah have no moral right to comment on mys government as he was addressing the gathering along with leaders who had gone to jail for corruption and another leader had a currency counting machine at his house.”

Siddaramaiah said defeat is certain for the BJP in the next parliamentary election since it had gone ahead with demonetization without making proper preparations and the common man was forced to face hardships.

Ridiculing BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s pledge to resolve the Cauvery and Mahadayi issues within 24 hours of assuming power, Siddaramaiah asked why he did not solve the Mahadayi issue when he was CM. “The Mahadayi tribunal was set up during his tenure but no step was taken to solve the issue. Now, he’s boasting of resolving it within 24 hours,” he said.

(Agencies)

Ahmedabad: In a boost to BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move, the party has captured two municipalities and one taluka panchayat in local bodies polls, the results of which were declared today.

In the ongoing vote counting, BJP is also ahead on 23 out of 31 other seats of various municipalities, taluka and district panchayats where by-polls were held.

As per the final result declared by the Gujarat State Election Commission, BJP has registered victory in Vapi municipality of Valsad district by capturing 41 out of total 44 seats.

Only three seats went to Congress in the recently held polls to this local body. Vapi municipality was earlier held by BJP.

Similarly, BJP made a near clean sweep in the polls to Kanakpur-Kansad municipality of Surat, where it captured 27 out of 28 seats, leaving only one to Congress. It was also held by BJP earlier.

In Rajkot, BJP snatched Gondal taluka panchayat, which went for mid-term poll, from Congress by winning 18 out of total 22 seats. Congress settled for only four. Earlier, Congress was ruling Gondal taluka panchayat.

Apart from these three elections, Gujarat SEC conducted by-elections on 31 seats of various municipalities, taluka panchayats and district panchayts across the state. The bypolls were necessitated as these seats fell vacant due to various reasons. Though final results are yet to be announced, BJP is running ahead on almost 23 seats.

The result assumes significance for the BJP in the run up to the state elections next year, and that they were held just after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Centre.

Taking a potshot at Congress over the results, Gujarat BJP’s media convener Harshad Patel said the result has once again proved that the entire state is with BJP.

“Regular as well as by-polls were held in different parts of Gujarat. Right from Vapi in south Gujarat to Gondal in Saurashtra region, people have chosen BJP over Congress. The opposition party should now understand that people are really unhappy with them,” Patel said.

Gujarat Congress conceded its defeat and vowed to work hard for the people.

“We accept our defeat. BJP must not forget that it was only by-polls on some seats. Congress has always raised issues concerning people like notes ban and we will continue to do so,” Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

(PTI)

Madurai: In raids in several places, three alleged ‘Al Qaeda operatives’ were on Monday arrested by the National Investigation Agency, police said.

Those arrested were identified as M Khareem, Asif Sultan Mohammed and Abbas Ali. While Khareem was arrested from Usmannagar, Asif Sultan Mohammed was picked up from GR Nagar and Abbas Ali from Ismailpuram, police said.

Explosive materials were allegedly seized from them, the police has claimed.

(Agencies)