Maharashtra Chief Minister walks off the stage during national anthem

Mumbai: In a major faux pas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was seen walking off the stage and rushing towards the exit gate of a function even as the national anthem was being played out.

Chavan was present at the Gateway of India in the function to honour the martyrs of 26/11 attacks. Immediately after releasing the balloons, Chavan headed towards the exit even as the announcer asked everyone to stand still for the national anthem.

By the time Chavan realised this, it was already too late. He stopped just as the anthem was about to end.

Chavan later said that it was unintentional and he stopped as soon as he realised anthem was playing.