A viral video showing Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana walking away while the national anthem played has ignited a firestorm online. The incident has sparked a heated debate over the conduct of constitutional officials.
Aug 23, 2026 — Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana is facing intense criticism after a video surfaced showing him leaving a public stage while the national anthem was playing. The incident, which took place in Unnao on Saturday evening, has triggered widespread social media backlash, accusations of disrespect, and demands for an apology from opposition leaders.
The episode unfolded during the 46th provincial conference and educational seminar of the Uttar Pradesh Pradhanacharya Parishad (Principals’ Council), held at SVM Inter College in Puran Nagar. Mahana, a senior BJP leader who represents the Maharajpur constituency, was attending the event as the chief guest.
According to reports and the widely circulated video, Mahana was accorded a police Guard of Honour. Immediately following the honour, the national anthem began. The footage shows the Speaker briefly saluting before stepping down from the platform and making his way to his vehicle, even stopping to allow supporters to touch his feet while “Jana Gana Mana” continued playing.
Widespread Backlash and Opposition Outrage
Within hours, the clip went viral across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Netizens were quick to condemn the senior leader, questioning the example set by a high-ranking constitutional authority.
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Social media was flooded with reactions, with many users pointing out a perceived double standard. “If an ordinary citizen did this, there would be lectures on patriotism. Different rules for the powerful?” read one widely shared post. Others resorted to sarcasm, with one user commenting, “Maybe Tagore should have written a shorter version for busy Speakers.”
The political opposition quickly seized on the issue. A senior Unnao Congress leader took to social media to state that Mahana “took the honour of the protocol and walked away,” demanding to know if the act constituted an insult to the national anthem. Various users have since tagged the Speaker’s office and state BJP leadership, calling for a formal explanation.
बताइए जब BJP उत्तर प्रदेश के विधानसभा अध्यक्ष का ये हाल है तो BJP के अंधभक्तों से क्या ही उम्मीद की जा सकती है?
राष्ट्रगान को बीच में ही छोड़ कर चले गए और यही लोग पूरे देश को देशभक्ति का ज्ञान पढ़ाते है! pic.twitter.com/9vptwaHbDQ
— Neha Bharti 2.0 (@IAmNehaBhart) August 22, 2026
Speaker and Organizers Push Back
Amid the mounting criticism, event organizers issued a clarification, stating that the anthem was actually being played inside the main auditorium where the program was being held, and the audio had simply echoed out to the outdoor Guard of Honour area.
Mahana himself strongly pushed back against the allegations. Addressing the controversy, he maintained that he had stopped and saluted respectfully when he heard the distant anthem before proceeding.
“If someone is playing the national anthem on the road, will the entire road come to a halt?” Mahana questioned, dismissing the outrage as excessive. He further added that the online reaction proved that “negativity has crossed all limits.”
During his time at the event, Mahana released a book titled Shiksha Prabha, assured the gathering of principals that teachers’ issues would be prioritized during the Assembly’s upcoming monsoon session, and spoke on strengthening educational institutions
