Act against Allahabad school banning national anthem: BJP MPs

BJP members in Lok Sabha on Tuesday demanded strict action against a school authority in Allahabad which had ordered a ban against singing of the National Anthem.

Raising the issue in the Zero Hour, Kirit Somaiah said the ban imposed by the school was shocking and the move had prompted eight teachers and the principal to quit. He was supported by several of his party colleagues.

Reports had it that Zia-ul Haq, manager of MA Convent School in Baghara locality, had justified his decision to ban the reciting of the national anthem saying, the phrase 'Bharat Bhagya Vidhata' violated the basic tenets of Islam.
 

Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs S S Ahluwalia said he would bring to the attention of the Minister concerned the issue of insult to the National Anthem.

Raising another issue, CPI-M members sought an apology from the State Bank of India to the Indian armed forces contending that the Bank has put up a huge hoarding in the Cantonment area in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra depicting US Marines in it.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said he would bring it to the attention of the Finance Minister for appropriate action.

Saugata Roy (TMC) expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the Kashmir valley in which 58 people have been killed in the past one month.

Ashok Chavan (Cong) drew the government's attention to the sorry plight of powerlooms in Maharashtra in the wake of cheap cloth from Sri Lanka, Bangaladesh, Pakistan and China.

Supported by Kapil Patil (BJP), he sought anti-dumping duty on the fabric instead of the yarn.