#KarnatakaGovernor #VajubhaiVala walks off during #nationalanthem at #RajBhavan

Bangalore: In an embarrassing gaffe, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Tuesday walked off the podium when the national anthem was being played at an official function at Raj Bhavan, landing him in a controversy. In an embarrassing gaffe, KarnatakaGovernor Vajubhai Vala on Tuesday walked off the podium when the national anthem was being played at an official function at Raj Bhavan, landing him in a controversy.

Vala, who administered the oath of office to Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan as Judge of Karnataka high court, walked down the stage as the national anthem was being played as per the protocol. As the governor, who appeared unaware of the national anthem being played, walked off, others on the dais and guests stood in attention.

This act of Vala left every one present including chief justice of Karnataka high court DH Waghela, Justice Chauhan and chief secretary Kaushik Mukherjee who was on stage, surprised. However, as Vala was walking away, one of the governor’s aides alerted him about the lapse, following which he soon returned to the podium and stood in attention. There was no word of explanation from Raj Bhavan, as the visuals of the incident were aired by TV channels, raising a controversy for showing “disrespect” to the national anthem.

When an aide rushed towards Vala and reminded him that the national anthem was being played to mark the end of the ceremony, the 77-year-old veteran Gujarat leader returned to the dais and stood along with Karnataka High Court Chief Justice D.H. Waghela, Justice Chauhan and state chief secretary Kaushik Mukherjee.

“It was not intentional but happened on the spur of the moment. The governor did not mean any disrespect to the national anthem and he returned to the dais immediately after he was told about it,” a state official, who was present at the ceremony, report said.

President Pranab Mukherjee recently transferred Justice Chauhan to Karnataka from Rajasthan High Court. There was no communique from Raj Bhavan or the state government on the governor’s momentary lapse.

Bureau Report