GUWAHATI: A wheelchair-bound man was allegedly abused and termed as a ‘Pakistani’ by two men at a multiplex for not standing up during the national anthem.

The victim, identified as Arman Ali, is the executive director of Sishu Sarthi, an NGO working for the empowerment of differently-abled people. While he was at a movie screening in multiplex here on Friday, he was called a ‘Pakistani‘ for not standing up during the national anthem. “Saamne ek Pakistani baitha hai (A Pakistani is sitting in front),” he heard someone calling commenting from behind.

Guwahati: Wheelchair-bound Director of NGO for differently-abled says he was abused for not standing up for national anthem in a multiplex pic.twitter.com/vH46FdpVES — ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2017

I was singing along while sitting. I heard someone commenting & calling me a Pakistani. 2 men sat behind me, smirking: Arman Ali pic.twitter.com/l1XlEaWUnS — ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2017

Describing the unfortunate incident, Arman said the behavior of the two men in their late 40s has left a question mark in his mind, adding that he would certainly take up the matter in the Supreme Court (SC).

I don't think SC would've thought of situation like this. I'll write to Chief Justice about this incident & plight of ppl like me: Arman Ali pic.twitter.com/lMJT0yW2G2 — ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2017

Arman took to Facebook to explain the incident.

Today, I took my nieces and nephew for a movie. As usual they played the #NationalAnthem before the movie and my niece… Posted by Arman Ali on Thursday, September 28, 2017

“How could they call me a Pakistani? I didn’t get into an argument with them as I had children with me. I stayed quiet. I wonder how many people would have supported me had I raised the issue. I am quite aware of the dangers of mob mentality,” Arman Ali, executive director of Shishu Sarothi, told NDTV.

On 30 November, 2016, the apex court had passed an order making it compulsory for all movie theatres to play the national anthem before each screening for what it called ‘the love of the motherland’.

However, in February this year, the Supreme Court clarified that people are not obliged to stand up when the national anthem is played as and in part of a film or documentary.

The verdict also says that people don’t need to sing the national anthem when it is being played before the screening of a film.

With ANI inputs