Now, Guwahati civic body makes national anthem mandatory for employees

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GUWAHATI: Days after Jaipur made it mandatory for its municipal corporation employees to sing the national anthem in the morning, Guwahati's civic body is following the suit.

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation has decided that all employees will sing the national anthem at 10 am daily.

The order was issued by city Mayor Mrigen Sarania.

The national anthem will discourage staff from wrongdoing at work, said the Mayor.

Last week, the Jaipur made it compulsory for all its civic body employees to sing the national anthem in the morning and Vande Mataram in the evening. The city mayor Ashok Lahoty further said that 'those who don't want to sing can go to Pakistan'. 

Dismissing his comment on Pakistan, Lahoty said, "No, I did not mean to say go to Pakistan. That was just friendly banter. Someone asked what if someone opposes singing the national anthem. I said this is not Pakistan."

Last month, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to come up with guidelines to regulate the playing of the National Anthem in public places, including movie theatres. The apex court said that patriotism cannot be forced through court orders and that whether or not a person stand for the Anthem cannot be used as a measure of patriotism.