NC, Cong leaders shouldn't have disrespected national anthem: J-K Deputy Speaker

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Jan. 3 (ANI): Condemning the opposition protest in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Speaker Kavinder Gupta today said that the National Conference and Congress should not have disrespected the national anthem, adding that a lesson has to be learnt so that the same is not repeated in future. "I think this is very unfortunate. Senior leaders of the National Conference and Congress should not have behaved in that manner. Every citizen of India respects the national anthem and a lesson has to be learnt so that it does not happen ever again," Gupta told ANI. Expressing similar sentiments, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravinder Raina demanded an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi for the disrespect shown towards the national anthem by the grand old party legislators. "This is not only disrespect towards the national anthem, but towards the nation. The Congress and National Conference need to apologise to the nation. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation for the behaviour of their legislators," Raina told ANI. Raina also demanded an apology from Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra for walking out of the House even when the national anthem was being played. "The most unfortunate act has been done by the Jammu and Kashmir Governor. He has to give reasons. He also has to apologise and if he doesn't do that, we will go to the Union Home Minister and ask him to remove the Governor," he added. Opposition-generated chaos in Jammu and Kashmir assembly forced Governor N.N. Vohra to cut short his address and walk out of the house today. (ANI)