Inquiry Against NC MLA for not Standing During National Anthem, Hilal Lone Says he Had no intention to insult National Anthem at SKICC

National Conference leader and MLA from Sonawari, Hilal Akbar Lone, Thursday clarified that he had no intention to insult the national anthem during chief minister Omar Abdullah’s oath-taking ceremony at the SKICC in Srinagar and was instead forced to sit down due to back pain.

“It’s not a crime to remain seated during the national anthem, as per a Supreme Court observation. I had no intention to insult the anthem, and as a legislator, I would never do so. I had valid medical reasons for sitting down,” Lone said.

Earlier, reports said that Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered an inquiry against Hilal Akbar Lone for remaining seated during the national anthem at Omar Abdullah’s oath-taking ceremony yesterday.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Omar Abdullah and his council ministers at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar—(KNO)

Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an inquiry

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an inquiry against National Conference MLA from Sonawari, Hilal Akbar Lone, for not standing up for the national anthem during the oath taking ceremony of Omar Abdullah as the chief minister of the union territory, CNN-News18 reported citing top intelligence sources.

Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. During the oath taking ceremony at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), a number of attendees did not stand up for the national anthem and Lone was one of them.

According to the report, when Lone was questioned over this, he said that he did not get up due to a medical condition. Sources, however, told CNN-News18 that couple of hours before this happened, Lone was seen standing and giving interviews to the media.

Sources also stated that officials will examine the complete video recording of the event to determine who remained seated during the national anthem.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah took oath as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, heading the first elected government in the Union territory since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Abdullah and his ministers at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre along the banks of the Dal Lake.His first term as chief minister was from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state.