National Anthem at GMC everyday

Guwahati: The employees of Gauhati Municipal Corporation (GMC) will have to sing the National Anthem everyday from Monday, a move which leading citizens and organisations said was fine if the largest civic body in the state also "duly discharged" its duties.

Mayor-in-council Mrigen Sarania told The Telegraph the decision to sing the National Anthem was taken on Thursday. But, senior citizens and various public organisation of Assam, after hearing about the decision, appealed to the GMC to concentrate equally on developing the city and maintaining its cleanliness.

Senior citizen and intellect Hiren Gohain said, "It is a strange decision. As a citizen, we should all respect the National Anthem. But it is also true that no one can become a patriot by singing the National Anthem. For public servants, patriotism should mean discharging their duties sincerely. But we do not see sincerity in the work of GMC. They even failed to maintain the cleanliness of the city."

However, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority chairman Dhiren Baruah said there was no link between work culture and singing the National Anthem.

"It is a very good decision. All departments should follow the path of GMC, because I believe singing National Anthem will increase the responsibility of an employee," he said.

Reacting to the move, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) urged all the employee of the department to dedicate themselves to providing all basic facilities to the citizens of Guwahati, along with singing the National Anthem.

"We have no objection to the move but the matter of concern is that the GMC has failed to provide basic facilities to us. We urge all officials and employees of GMC to dedicate themselves to public service," AASU general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said.

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti joint secretary Mukut Deka appealed to make the civic body a vibrant department and to save it from it's current pathetic condition. "Patriotism cannot be created with force. It should be created in our minds automatically. We do not oppose the singing of the National Anthem, but we appeal to the GMC to fulfil its duty towards the public."

Sarania said all the employees would sing the National Anthem together. Those deployed in the field would be exempted.

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