UP assembly speaker draws ire for leaving dais during National Anthem at Unnao event

Unnao: Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the National Anthem was played at an event here, drawing flak from the Opposition.

Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.

A purported video of the incident shows the Speaker staying still for a few seconds, then turning around and stepping down from the saluting dais while the anthem was played at the principals' council event on Saturday.


Some supporters standing nearby then approached him and were seen touching his feet. The National Anthem continued to play as Mahana proceeded towards his vehicle and left the venue.

Congress's social media department head Supriya Shrinate said, in a post in Hindi on X, that the "insult" to 'Jana Gana Mana' will not be tolerated and demanded an apology.