Wheelchair-bound Arman Ali called ‘Pakistani’ for sitting during National Anthem

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GUWAHATI: A wheelchair-bound man was allegedly abused and termed as a ‘Pakistani’ by two men at a multiplex for not standing up during the national anthem.

The victim, identified as Arman Ali, is the executive director of Sishu Sarthi, an NGO working for the empowerment of differently-abled people. While he was at a movie screening in multiplex here on Friday, he was called a ‘Pakistani‘ for not standing up during the national anthem. “Saamne ek Pakistani baitha hai (A Pakistani is sitting in front),” he heard someone calling commenting from behind.

Describing the unfortunate incident, Arman said the behavior of the two men in their late 40s has left a question mark in his mind, adding that he would certainly take up the matter in the Supreme Court (SC).

Arman took to Facebook to explain the incident.

 

“How could they call me a Pakistani? I didn’t get into an argument with them as I had children with me. I stayed quiet. I wonder how many people would have supported me had I raised the issue. I am quite aware of the dangers of mob mentality,” Arman Ali, executive director of Shishu Sarothi, told NDTV.

On 30 November, 2016, the apex court had passed an order making it compulsory for all movie theatres to play the national anthem before each screening for what it called ‘the love of the motherland’.

However, in February this year, the Supreme Court clarified that people are not obliged to stand up when the national anthem is played as and in part of a film or documentary.

The verdict also says that people don’t need to sing the national anthem when it is being played before the screening of a film.

With ANI inputs