by Nisar Rasool
Srinagar: Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta criticized National Conference (NC) lawmaker Hilal Akbar Lone for his disrespectful behavior towards the National Anthem during the recent oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Gupta described Lone’s actions as “loathsome” and “anti-national.”
In a statement to the media, Gupta expressed that the MLA’s failure to stand for the National Anthem highlights a troubling mindset within the NC. He recalled that Lone had previously raised pro-Pakistan slogans in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in 2018, which drew widespread condemnation.
Gupta urged the NC leadership to address this issue seriously and instruct their members to respect national symbols, asserting that disrespect towards the National Anthem would not be tolerated. He called for legal action against Lone, labeling his behavior as unacceptable and demanding an unconditional apology.
Emphasizing the significance of national symbols, Gupta stated that such disrespect not only undermines national unity but also reflects poorly on the leadership of political parties that allow such actions. He affirmed that Lone’s gesture had offended the sentiments of patriotic citizens across the country.
