The flag is the symbol of India’s sovereignty. It is quite imperative that India residents respect the national flag. Further, the Union Ministry in its notification, has instructed Plastic flags should not be used at all. We must respect that and refrain from using plastic flags. Once the celebrations are over it is our utmost duty and see that the flags should not lie on the roads. It is also quite imperative to stand in silence for the National Anthem.
Citizens must respect the national anthem. There may modifications in the rules but we feel proud to respect our flag when National anthem is played in cinema halls. Modifying its earlier order mentioning that everybody must stand while the national anthem is played in theatres, the Supreme Court clarified that the audience need not stand if the anthem is part of a film.
The apex court opined that the audience need not stand up when the national anthem is part of the storyline of a film, newsreel or documentary, as was seen in blockbuster Dangal recently. It is not compulsory to sing the national anthem in cinema halls. On November 30 last year, the Supreme Court had ordered cinema halls across the nation to mandatory play the national anthem before screening of a movie and the audience must stand and show respect.
Supreme Court refused to give an urgent hearing on a plea seeking direction for framing of a policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national flag and national song. The time has come when citizens must realise they live in a nation and are duty-bound to show respect to National Anthem which is a symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality and hence there is no compulsion.
The tricolour instills in us a sense of great pride, no matter what the platform and the confidence level take you to the skies. India is my country and all the Indians are my brothers are sisters- ring in my mind throughout the day and the year around.
Nickil Mani
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
