A video purportedly showing a Muslim family forced to leave cinema hall after they refused to stand up during National Anthem is going viral on social media. In the video clip, people can be seen arguing with the family. The crowd accuse the Muslim family of making excuses for not standing up when the national anthem was playing. The clip shows the family, surrounded by the group of people, trying to defend itself. In the end, the family walks out and the audience claps in approval.

The incident took place during a show of the movie Tamasha at a PVR in Kurla in Mumbai, while some reports suggest that the incident took place at a PVR in Bengaluru.

Watch the video here:

Sitting during National Anthem is not a Crime:

To all the people in that movie hall,

“Sitting during National Anthem is not a Crime”. Our Government Website clearly states so:

“Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem“.

According to a Court Ruling, not standing in the attention position during the national anthem is not prima facie a crime.

“It is the moral duty of a person to stand in the attention position when the national anthem is played. But if they do not do so, then, prima facie, it is not a crime under the 1971 Act. Under the 2002 National Flag Code, no mention of any crime is stated if a person is not standing at attention.”

Check out some Tweets on this Issue:

Please stop playing national anthem in movie theatres and attacking people for not standing up.

— Vineeth Jose (@vineethjose) November 30, 2015

Simple solution: Play the National Anthem AFTER the film’s end-credits. True patriots will stay back, the anti-nationals are free to leave.

— वरुण (@varungrover) November 30, 2015

It is not an offence to remain seated if the National Anthem plays in a theatre. (Source: https://t.co/aGlBSDoxl2) pic.twitter.com/QL0egzFsNk

— Suprateek Chatterjee (@SupraMario) November 30, 2015

Whose utterly foolish idea was it to have the national anthem played in movie halls? This is the kind of thing Orwell would write about.

— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) November 30, 2015

Why can’t you stand up for the National Anthem in theatres? Have some respect for UNESCO for voting it the best, 10 years in a row.

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 30, 2015

My personal advice is –
See National Flag: Salute or look respectfully.
Hear National Anthem: Stand up.
Meet National Animal: Run away.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) November 30, 2015

Taking the law into our hand is something which everyone loves to do. No one cares about the collateral damage – loss of shame and innocence.