A controversy erupted Friday on social media, after Prime Minister
Narendra Modi autographed an alleged Indian flag that was to be
presented to US President Barack Obama by celebrity chef Vikas Khanna.
A cloth painting reportedly signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and handed over to celebrity chef Vikas Khanna in New York
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Reports suggested the Ministry of External Affairs had taken the flag back from the chef after it came to light that writing anything on it was a violation of the Indian Flag Code.
Government spokesman Frank
Noronha, however, denied that the PM had signed the flag and said it had
not been confiscated either. Noronha, Director General (Media and
Communication), Press Information Bureau, said the piece of cloth was a
work of handicraft prepared by the physically-challenged daughter of the
chef, and the Prime Minister had autographed it on compassionate basis
after Khanna and his family made a request.
“The piece of cloth
does not have white colour nor the wheel....It has been prepared by
Khanna’s daughter with her toe and the Prime Minister was
compassionate,” he clarified and termed as “absolutely false” reports
that it had been confiscated. Khanna had prepared the menu for the Prime
Minister’s dinner with Fortune 500 CEOs on Thursday night. The Prime
Minister told the chef that he had done him proud. The chef later
displayed the piece of cloth and tweeted that it was “Make in India
insignia with Ashoka Chakra gears hand painted by Smile Foundation
Children. Not the national flag.”
According to the Indian Flag
Code-2002, putting any kind of inscription or lettering upon the Indian
national flag is construed as disrespect to the flag.
Despite the
clarifications, reactions in the virtual world came thick and fast. The
opposition Congress too grabbed the opportunity to score a few points.
The party’s chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, “However high you
may be, the national flag is above you, you should understand this.”
Asked if the Prime Minister’s action was an offence under the IPC, he
said, “we are not petty like the BJP. We respect the office of the Prime
Minister.”
At the same time, he said the Prime Minister must look
within and take ‘corrective action’ as respect for the national flag is
the responsibility of 125 crore people and more so, of the Prime
Minister. His party colleague Manish Tewari tweeted, “Has PM read Para
2.1 sub para 6& Para 3.28 of Flag Code 2002 that states lettering on
National Flag is misuse.3 yrs jail under PINH Act 2003.”
Source : The New Indian Express , 26th Sep 2015
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