Mamata Banerjee has been accused of disrespecting the nationwide anthem at an occasion in Mumbai (File)
Mumbai:
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has right now been issued a summons by a Mumbai court docket that directed her to look earlier than it on March 2 for allegedly disrespecting the nationwide anthem throughout her go to to the town in December 2021. The Chief Minister had allegedly not stood up when the nationwide anthem was performed on the occasion she was attending.
Although Mamata Banerjee is a Chief Minister, “a sanction is not required and there is no bar to proceed against the accused” since she was not discharging her official responsibility, the court docket mentioned.
Mumbai BJP unit functionary Vivekanand Gupta had approached the metropolitan magistrates’ court docket in December 2021 with a grievance, accusing Mamata Banerjee of disrespecting the nationwide anthem. He additionally demanded that an FIR be registered in opposition to her.
The court docket mentioned it’s evident from the grievance, verification assertion of the complainant, video clip within the DVD, and video clips on YouTube that the accused sang the nationwide anthem and stopped abruptly and left the dais. This proves that the accused has dedicated an offence punishable underneath Section three of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
“Though the accused is the chief minister of West Bengal, she was not discharging her official duties (during the event in Mumbai). Thereby, this act of the accused, though she is the chief minister of West Bengal, does not come under her official duty. Therefore, a sanction is not required and there is no bar to proceed against the accused,” the court docket mentioned.
Mamata Banerjee was on a go to to Mumbai final 12 months throughout which she met leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra.
Vivekananda Gupta had claimed Ms Banerjee violated the Home Ministry’s 2015 order which states that at any time when the nationwide anthem is performed or sung, the viewers should stand to consideration.