A Kochi court has summoned Shashi Tharoor, the former UN diplomat, who is running as the Congress Party parliamentary candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, to defend himself against a charge of insulting the national anthem.
Human rights activist Joy Kaitharath alleges that Tharoor, after delivering a public lecture in Kochi in December last year, interrupted the national anthem by urging the audience to place their palm over the heart, following the U.S. practice, instead of the Indian tradition of standing at attention.
The judge, in his order, said Tharoor’s alleged request was a “grossly inappropriate gesture” that potentially violated the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.Tharoor denies disrespecting any national symbol: “The allegation is totally false. There was no interruption. Before the national anthem was sung and while the singers were walking up to the mike, I just stated that in the wake of the Mumbai horrors, the national anthem had a special place in all our hearts. There were about 2,000 people in the audience and I am sure any of them would be able to give evidence that there was no interruption.’’
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