Moscow: In an unusual incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was pulled back by a Russian official as he walked past the guard of honour accorded to him while the Indian national anthem was being played soon after his arrival here on Wednesday.
As the Prime Minister was moving when 'Jana Gana Mana' was being played at the guard of honour by a contingent of Russian military, a Russian official gently nudged him to move back.
Modi started walking following a gesture by a Russian official when the military band was playing India's national anthem at the Vnukova II airport.
However, another official stopped Modi from walking following which the Prime Minister stepped back and stood in attention, as per PTI.
Soon the hashtag #ModiInsultsNationalAnthem started trending on Twitter.
Here's how some of the Twitterati reacted:
Still bhakts are saying, he was walking with delegation, guys please don't loose ur sense #ModiInsultsNationalAnthem
— Amandeep Kainth (@amankainth0290) December 23, 2015
Wrong To Say #ModiInsultsNationalAnthem. See Clip Properly, PM Modi Was Walking With Delegates On Guard Of Honor & Sudden Anthem Started.
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 23, 2015
#modiinsultsnationalanthem is now trending in India https://t.co/6KlseQJWkG
— Trendsmap India (@TrendsmapIndia) December 23, 2015
Please stop Blaming Modi ji. He was blinded by the flash of the cameras. #ModiInsultsNationalAnthem
— ninjudi (@NautankiNinja) December 23, 2015
As per convention, one should stand in attention when the national anthem is played.
The Prime Minister is here on a two-day visit to hold annual summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(Wiith Agency inputs)
