Police record UDF leader’s statement as complaints filed by three parties
A police team investigating the simultaneous singing of the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and the national song, Vande Mataram, during the Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony at the Kozhikode Corporation recorded the statement of the Leader of the Opposition in the council, S.V. Mohammed Shameel Thangal of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday (August 17).
The incident on August 15 at the Corporation office lawn — which began at about 9.30 a.m. after Mayor O. Sadasivan hoisted the flag and delivered his address — saw councillors aligned with different parties singing two national compositions simultaneously, resulting in confusion.
Three complaints, single investigation team
According to police records, complaints have been lodged by three council leaders representing the major political streams in Kozhikode civic life:
- The UDF complaint, filed by S.V. Mohammed Shameel Thangal;
- The Left Democratic Front (LDF) council party complaint, filed by K. Rajeev;
- A complaint from a BJP councillor, Navya Haridas.
All three complaints are being handled by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kozhikode Town Sub-Division) T.K. Asharaf, who has been entrusted with the probe by District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) A.P. Shoukathali. The police said they had not registered a first information report (FIR) in the matter as of Monday evening.
| Complainant | Allegation |
|---|---|
| S.V. Mohammed Shameel Thangal (UDF) | Alleged insult to the national anthem by BJP councillors singing Vande Mataram while anthem was sung |
| K. Rajeev (LDF) | Alleged insult to the national anthem (similar to UDF complaint) |
| Navya Haridas (BJP) | Alleged that the national anthem was sung improperly while Vande Mataram was being sung; said the Mayor, deputy mayor and others later walked away |
Sequence at the ceremony and immediate aftermath
Police accounts indicate that immediately after the flag-hoisting and the Mayor's address, the Mayor announced the national anthem and LDF and UDF councillors began singing Jana Gana Mana. Simultaneously, BJP councillors started singing the full version of Vande Mataram. Both groups continued to sing despite the confusion.
"The LDF and UDF complaints alleged that BJP councillors had insulted the national anthem by singing the national song while it was being sung,"
Police further said the Mayor and other councillors completed the national anthem and departed, while BJP councillors continued singing the national song. The Kozhikode Town police recorded BJP councillor Navya Haridas’ statement on Sunday (August 16), and Thangal’s statement was taken on Monday.
What officials have done so far
District Police Chief A.P. Shoukathali has assigned the probe to the Town Sub-Division, and Assistant Commissioner T.K. Asharaf is leading the inquiry. No FIR has been registered as of the latest update from the police. The investigation appears to be at the stage of recording statements from the principal complainants and participants.
The protestations from all three political benches underline the sensitivity around national symbols during public ceremonies and the heightened partisan tensions within the civic council. The matter remains under investigation and the police have not publicly indicated a timeframe for completion.
Local residents and civic commentators watching the proceedings will be looking to the investigation to determine whether any legal breach occurred in how the national anthem and national song were rendered at an official public function presided over by the Mayor.
