UP Congress Slams BJP Over National Anthem Row Involving Assembly Speaker

A controversy over the national anthem surfaced in Uttar Pradesh after the state Assembly Speaker's actions drew public attention. The episode quickly became a flashpoint between the two major political parties in the state.
The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Indian National Congress issued a sharp response, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of politicising the anthem and using the issue to further partisan agendas. In its statement, the Congress demanded that all political actors show respect for the national symbol and refrain from exploiting it for electoral gain.
The party called for a calm and dignified handling of the matter within the legislative assembly, urging lawmakers to focus on governance rather than symbolic disputes. The debate has sparked discussions across the state, with civil society groups also weighing in on the appropriate protocol for the national anthem.
The episode underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding national symbols in Indian politics and reflects the broader contest for narrative control between the BJP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh.