Police record UDF leader’s statement in Kozhikode Corporation anthem row

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The police team probing the incident of two groups of councillors singing the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana and the national song, Vande Mataram , simultaneously during the Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony at the Kozhikode Corporation on August 15 recorded the statement of Leader of the Opposition in the council S.V. Mohammed Shameel Thangal of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday (August 17).

Mr. Thangal, Left Democratic Front (LDF) council party leader K. Rajeev, and BJP councillor Navya Haridas have filed complaints with District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) A.P. Shoukathali following the incident. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kozhikode Town Sub-Division) T.K. Asharaf has been entrusted with the investigation of the complaints.

On Sunday (August 16), Kozhikode Town police recorded Ms. Haridas’ statement. The police said they had not yet registered an FIR in the matter.

The LDF and UDF complaints alleged that BJP councillors had insulted the national anthem by singing the national song while it was being sung. Meanwhile, the BJP complaint alleged that the national anthem was sung improperly while the national song was being sung, and that Mayor O. Sadasivan, deputy mayor S. Jayasree and others later walked away.

The Independence Day ceremony began around 9.30 a.m. outside the Corporation office. Mayor O. Sadasivan announced the national anthem after hoisting the flag and delivering his Independence Day address.

As the Mayor and councillors from the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF began singing Jana Gana Mana , BJP councillors started singing the full version of Vande Mataram . Both groups persisted despite the resulting confusion.

The Mayor and other councillors completed the national anthem and departed, while the BJP councillors continued singing Vande Mataram .

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