Is this true…?

Apparently, this is a picture of our esteemed popular leaders of Bihar, Shri and Shrimati Yadav, sitting and reading calmly even as the National Anthem is being played in the background.

I am not sure if it is indeed the national anthem that is being played – but if it is, this would signal new depths have been plumbed in shamelessness.

ToI Report on the incident:

patna: rjd chief laloo prasad yadav and his chief minister wife rabri devi on saturday sparked off a controversy by remaining seated while the national anthem was played at a republic day function. yadav, however, claimed that during march past only the person taking salute needed to stand up.

referring to a private tv channel footage which showed that the couple remained seated while the national anthem was played, yadav told a press conference that the shot was taken at the beginning of the march-past during which the person taking salute alone was to stand up. yadav said both he and rabri devi stood up when the national anthem was played during the flag hoisting by governor v c pande.

he further said it was not necessary for other dignitories to stand up during the closing ceremony and produced a security official, sheela, who claimed that the anthem played at the closing ceremony was to bid good bye to the dignitary (governor) who took the salute. “we can’t show any disrespect to the national anthem,” yadav said, adding that they had left the venue soon after the parade as he was not feeling well.