Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor Saturday got a relief when a Kerala court which dismissed a petition alleging against him acts showing disrespect to the national anthem.
The petition was dismissed by the Ernakulam additional chief judicial magistrate.
A resident of Ernakulam filed the petition following a Dec 16, 2008 public meeting in Kochi, organised by a bank, where Tharoor allegedly asked the audience to sing the national anthem by placing their right hands on chests, similar to what happens in the West.
The court said Tharoor had done no wrong but instead shown love and admiration for the country.
After the court's decision, Tharoor said: "I am relieved that after four and a half long years, justice has finally been done."
"I have always had the highest respect for our national symbols and institutions...I was deeply hurt to be unjustly accused of disrespecting the anthem," said the minister of state.
"It is an immense relief that this ordeal is now over," said Tharoor.