Singing National Anthem in Theatres Doesn’t Make Anyone Patriotic – AIMIM MLA Imtiyaz Jaleel

Aurangabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Imtiyaz Jaleel on Tuesday said national anthem need not be played in cinema halls as people go there for entertainment and not for getting any certificate on patriotism.

He said that merely singing the national anthem in a cinema hall does not make anybody patriotic. “I love my country and have great respect for our tri-colour and national anthem, but I don’t want to show my patriotism, respect and love for this great country by singing the national anthem in a cinema hall,” Jaleel said in his post on social media.

The MLA said playing the anthem could be made mandatory in schools and colleges. His comments came against the backdrop of an incident in a cinema hall in suburban Mumbai wherein a family was being asked to leave by the audience for not standing up while the national anthem was being played.

“I don’t know when these nautanki artists learn to call a spade a spade. Don’t thrust your superficial patriotism on us. It’s my country and I don’t have to prove my love for India to any Tom, Dick and Harry,” he added.

In Maharashtra, it is mandatory for all cinemas to play the national anthem before every film. Jaleel said that love and respect should come from within and not just by singing the national anthem before start of a film. Jaleel said an MNS leader, who was one of the panelists on a television programme, had said that he be sent to Pakistan.