Mysuru : An altercation took place at DRC cinema in Mysuru when a Muslim couple was accused of insulting the national anthem by remaining seated during its playing before the movie began. The incident occurred on July 21 at the prestigious BM Habitat Mall’s DRC cinema on Gokulam Road during the 9:55 pm screening of the movie “Bad News.”
Before the movie started, as is customary, everyone in the theater stood up to pay their respects to the national anthem. However, the Muslim couple remained seated, which was noticed by a Hindu couple sitting nearby. They questioned the Muslim couple about their lack of respect, leading to a verbal confrontation. The situation quickly escalated, resulting in a heated exchange between the two families.
As the commotion grew louder, more members of the Muslim family gathered near the mall. Sensing the potential for the situation to spiral out of control, the Jayalakshmipuram police intervened promptly. They arrived at the scene and escorted the involved parties to the police station for further questioning.
The Jayalakshmipuram police visited the DRC movie theater to investigate the incident. They reviewed the CCTV footage and spoke with the theater owner to gather complete information about the sequence of events. The CCTV footage has been seized as part of the investigation, which is now underway.
The incident drew sharp criticism from various quarters, including former MP Pratap Simha, who expressed his displeasure over the behaviour of the Muslim couple. Speaking to reporters in the city on July22, he remarked, “This is what happens to those who do not feel that this is the birthplace and this is the holy land! The motherland is the same, the land of birth is the same, and the holy land is the same.” But those who their holy land is Arab can do this kind of disrespect he added.
He further criticised the lack of immediate action from other theatergoers, suggesting that more decisive actions should have been taken to address the situation. “Others in the theater had to do protest this on the spot .. But no one has done that. It should be ensured that this does not happen again,” Simha asserted.
When contacted Mysore city police commissioner Seema Latker told Organiser that the incident occurred at a cinema theater and Jayalakshmipura police being investigated into the issue.
The incident has sparked a debate on social media and among the public, with many expressing their views on the importance of respecting the national anthem and the cultural sensitivities involved. Some have called for stricter enforcement of respect for national symbols, while others have urged for a more measured response to such incidents to avoid communal tensions.
The police investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what actions will be taken against the individuals involved. The incident has highlighted the need for greater awareness and respect for national symbols, as well as the importance of handling such situations with sensitivity to maintain communal harmony.
