The issue of disrespect to the National Anthem rocked the Telangana Assembly on Monday.

While the TRS tried to use the issue to beat back the belligerent TDP, the Congress turned the tables and made the ruling TRS stand in the dock on the issue.

On Saturday, while before the Governor’s speech, the TRS and the TDP members clashed in the assembly, during which three of the TDP members, including Revanth Reddy, were pushed down. The clash went on even while the National Anthem was played. After this, the Speaker asked the leaders of various parties to study the clippings of the incident.

On Monday, when the house reassembled, Irrigation and Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao raised the issue and demanded that strict action be taken against the TDP members, who disrespected the National Anthem.

However, Congress Legislature Party leader K Jana Reddy pointed out that the clippings shown to him were incomplete and felt that the complete and unedited footage should also be shown to the members. He also said that there cannot be two yardsticks for the ruling party and the opposition. He wanted the role of the ruling party too to be properly investigated into. He said the footage of the ruckus at the end of Govenor’s speech was shown, while the fisticuffs during the National Anthem before the beginning of the speech were not shown.

Congress MLA Sampath too said that the ruling party was trying to shield its MLAs in the incident. He said the National Anthem belongs not just to the TRS but to the whole of 125 crore of Indian population. Jana Reddy said that everyone should respect the National Anthem.

Responding to the Congress onslaught Harish Rao asked the Congress not to politicize the issue of National Anthem. BJP’s floor leader Dr K Laxman also wanted the government to ensure that the honour and dignity of the National Anthem be protected.