SC's decision on national anthem must be respected: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court' decision to play national anthem before the screening of films, saying that these symbols of the constitution must be respected.

"The Supreme Court is created out of the Constitution. The Constitution is interpreted wherever required by the Supreme Court. I think the message is very clear that a country runs by the Constitution, the constitutional mandate, these are symbols of the Constitution, symbols of national honour and sovereignty must be respected," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI.

He further said that Article 51A is very clear that it is the duty of every citizen to respect the national anthem and the national flag.

"The very fact that the Supreme Court had to pass such an order today is a reaffirmation that everything will run by the constitutional mandate. Those who are trying to create a controversy in the past or those who try to make a controversy of it, have to realise that the Constitution is a package," he added.

BJP leader Sudesh Verma told ANI, "We welcome this decision by the Supreme Court. We are very happy about this. Even otherwise the national song and national flag should have a very high place in our day to day existence. We are very confident that this is going to help inculcate a spirit of nationalism and help us to rise as one nation,"

"We should feel proud about this decision. The people of our country will respectfully sing the national anthem. It is decorum. It is our respect, and together, we all should maintain the dignity." Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar told ANI.

The Supreme Court ordered the playing of the national anthem on cinema screens and displaying of the national flag mandatory before the beginning of any movie.

The apex court stated that all people present in the movie must rise and pay respect to the anthem. The next hearing will take place on February 14.