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| A screenshot of Modi walking away from Indian National Anthem (Video below) |
December 23, 2015, NewsCrunch
In a protocol disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked away as the Indian national anthem was being played in Moscow.
Modi, who landed in Russia for his annual summit with President Putin, was receiving a guard of honour from Russian soldiers.
In an apparent mix-up, Modi was prompted to inspect the guard of honour, which he did by walking before the assembled soldiers standing in stiff attention. But the Russian Army Band also started playing Jana Gana Mana at the same time.
An absent minded or clueless Modi continued to walk away from the band.
A Russian official realised the mistake, ran to stop Modi, and call him back.
Modi immediately obliged and returned to stand erect along with the soldiers, who were playing the anthem.
Protocol requires dignitaries and citizens to stand still in respect when the anthem is played at a public event. Perhaps, a jet-lagged Modi overlooked the rule book.
Modi has been in similar controversies in the past. He had wiped his face with a stole that was draped in the colours of the Indian flag during the Yoga Day. He had also signed a fabric that looked like the Indian flag in the US.
During a recent summit with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in Malaysia, he had failed to notice that Indian flag was flying upside down.
Earlier to that he had been publicly corrected in protocol by German Chancellor Angela Merkel; she had ignored his handshake to point out that when country heads pose for photos they should do it in front of their national flags,
Video: Watch PM Modi's protocol disaster in Moscow - walks away as Russian soldiers play National Anthem
Dnt spread lie Modi was walking wit delegates on Guard of honor n sudden Anthem start #ModiInsultsNationalAnthempic.twitter.com/4OthG2iek6— Ramrao Kulkarni (@RamraoKP_) December 23, 2015