Mamata Banerjee summoned by Mumbai court

India: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been summoned by the Mazgaon Metropolitan court in Mumbai, to appear before it on March 2. A case has been registered against her for  allegedly showing disrespect to the national anthem during her visit to the city.

Mumbai BJP unit functionary Vivekanand Gupta approached the metropolitan magistrates court at Mazgaon in December 2021 with a complaint, alleging that Banerjee, who is also head of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), had showed disrespect to the national anthem during her visit to the city. He demanded that an FIR be registered against her.

Banerjee was on a visit to Mumbai last year during which she met leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena and the NCP in Maharashtra. Gupta had claimed Banerjee violated the Union Home Ministry’s order of 2015, which states that whenever the national anthem is played or sung, the audience shall stand to attention.