JAMMU: Commenting upon the hue and cry raised by BJP leaders asking for apology from opposition Congress and National Conference for disrespect to National Anthem, Harsh Dev Singh, JKNPP Chairman and former Minister, called upon the Saffron Brigade to set their own house in order before delivering homilies to others.
He said that the disrespect to National Anthem is undoubtedly condemnable, and those who did it are amenable to law, but it is not the first time that disrespect has been shown to national symbols and emblems, added Singh. Alleging persistent violations of Flag Code of India, Prevention of insult to National Honours Act and Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act by the ministers of the BJP-PDP Govt, Singh called for invocation of penal action against them as they could not be let off by mere apology.
Pointing towards the violations committed by the ministers in the use of National Flag, Harsh said it is unambiguously provided in the relevant laws that National Flag shall always occupy the position of honour and distinctly placed and when used in a motor car it shall fly on the right side of the vehicle.
He said that various ministers of BJP and PDP were flying the National Flag on the left side of their vehicle with the prominent distinctive position having been conceded to State Flag. He further said that this amounted to making National Flag subservient to State Flag and an insult to it within the meaning and scope of National Emblems and Names Act.
He said that the Flag Code of India further specified that National Flag shall always made of Khadi or hand spun cloth and flying a flag of any other material is punishable with three years imprisonment besides fine adding that there have been several occasions when such flags were used as festoons and rosettes with none to object in view of saffron workers themselves indulging in such ostentatious shows. He said that National Flags have often been used as draperies and even the PM Modi was once caught on camera wiping his hands and face with Tricolour which was widely reported in media.
Harsh further pointed out that only recently one of the ministers of present Govt. was shown flying a National Flag upside down with green panel on the top and saffron at the bottom, which despite media reports went unheeded. He said that Flag Code categorically states that flag could be used only between sunrise and sunset but it is a common spectacle to watch ministers flying National Flag on their cars even after sunset further mentioning that provisions of law are clear that when the dignitary is not sitting in the vehicle, the flag has to be removed from the vehicle. But the Civil Secretariat Parking shows the vehicles of ministers parked with National and State Flags both flying on them he pointed out. He said that prevention of insult to State Honors Act prohibits the using a dishevelled or soiled Flag but majority of the flags on the ministers cars appear defiled and defaced and yet no one to take cognisance. He also said that Flag Code further warranted the hoisting of National Flags on the Commissioners’ Offices, Div Com and District Magistrates Offices, Municipalities, PSUs and boards besides other constitutional authorities which practice was conspicuously missing in BJP-PDP Govt. Calling all parties to respect the National Symbols and Emblems, Singh advised the BJP to make a beginning from their own home and educate their ministers about the sanctity of the laws pertaining to our national honour and pride before casting aspersions on other parties.