National anthem row: Maniyanpilla Raju calls protests a showoff

Maniyanpilla Raju

Thiruvananthapuram: Slamming those who allegedly disrespected the National Anthem, veteran actor Maniyanpilla Raju on Tuesday said police shouldn't have released them on bail. "We should take strong action against such attempts. Police shouldn't have released them on bail," Raju said.

On Monday, 11 people, including three journalists and a woman, were arrested by city police for allegedly disobeying the Supreme Court order on national anthem. They were booked under section 188 r/w of IPC for disobedience to the order duly promulgated by the public servant and were released on personal bonds.

"What's wrong in respecting our national anthem? They were asked to stand up for just 52 seconds before the movie. These people will obey every rule when they go abroad. This is just a showoff," Raju said.

"Even the foreigners who have come here as juries and delegates stand up when the national anthem is played before the screening of movies.

"Will they dare to do the same in Saudi Arabia or any other nations with such strict rules? No one should support such acts," he said.