Guwahati civic body mandates daily singing of national anthem
Less than a week after the Jaipur municipal corporation mandated daily singing of the national anthem by staff, the Guwahati civic body has now followed suit. All employees will now sing 'Jana Gana Mana' every day at 10am, Mayor Mrigen Sarania announced. Sarania had earlier said the advantages are twofold: people would reach office on time and also desist from wrongdoings at work.
Guwahati Municipal Corporation Staff singing national anthem
More and more organizations implementing similar decisions
In recent times, many states have gone on a drive to have the national song and anthem sung at schools and offices daily. In July, the Madras HC ruled that 'Vande Mataram' be played in Tamil Nadu's schools at least once a week. In August, the Bombay Municipal Corporation made singing of the national song compulsory in all BMC-run schools.
However, Jaipur's case was marred by 'go to Pakistan' controversy
The decision by the Jaipur mayor, however, created major controversy when he said those who don't want to sing the song or anthem "should go to Pakistan". Though Congress supported the move, it protested Mayor Ashok Lahoti's comments. Lahoti later called it "friendly banter" and clarified what he meant: "I said this isn't Pakistan (that someone will oppose)."
But other organizations are undeterred
After the Jaipur notification, Congress called it BJP's "competition for who the biggest nationalist is". But more organizations seem to be interested in implementing the move. Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma said a proposal to sing the anthem and song daily would be moved soon.
