Why Can't People Stand Up For National Anthem For 52 Seconds: Anupam Kher

Pune: Veteran actor Anupam Kher today said if people can wait at the restaurants, stand in the queues in front of theaters or party venues, why cannot they stand for 52 seconds for the national anthem in the cinema halls.

Mr Kher was here to receive the Pramod Mahajan Memorial Award.

Along with Mr Kher, Shayara Bano, the original petitioner in the triple talaq case, was also conferred with the award, constituted in the name of the late BJP leader.

Mr Kher, during his speech, lambasted those against mandatorily playing the national anthem inside the cinema halls before the start of the film.

"Some people are of the opinion that standing up for the national anthem should not be made mandatory, but for me, standing up for the national anthem shows the upbringing of that person," he said. "We stand up in respect in front of our father or teacher, similarly getting up for the national anthem shows respect towards our nation."

He added, "If people can wait at the restaurants, stand in the queues in front of the cinema halls or at the party venues, why cannot they stand for 52 seconds for the national anthem in the cinema halls."

Mr Kher, while raking up the issue of 'award-waapsi', said, "At the age of 15, I learnt how to deal with failure so these 'award wapasi' people cannot scare me," he said.

He said his father had taught him how to deal with failures after he could not clear his examination at the age of 15.

The Pramod Mahajan Memorial Awards are given by city-based organisation Muktachhand, run by BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar handed over the awards.

Poonam Mahajan, a BJP MP and the daughter of late Pramod Mahajan, was also present at the event.