By RK Sinha
On Republic Day, when all the people of India including children and elderly saluted the tricolour, so called group of protesting farmers in the capital entered the Red Fort premises and placed the flags of Nisaan Saahib and some of the farmers organisation at the same place where Prime Minister of India hoists the tricolour on independence day every year. How can this notion even imagine or tolerate to place any flag other than a tricolour on the Red Fort. Strict action should be taken against persons behind this audacious behaviour. These pseudo farmers have done an unforgivable offence by doing the insult of tricolour. In this scenario, there is no place for ifs and buts. The entire country witnessed how these anti national elements disrespected the pride and recognition of India. Pardon me for saying that the India is the only country across the world where an individual or a group can even think to insult the national flag. You may recall that a few years ago, Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of Karnataka had started demanding a separate flag for the state. However, the Home ministry made the state realise its limits. It made it clear that the flag code of the country in constitution allows only one single flag for the entire nation. So,there is no space for flags other than the tricolour. Just think how a state government of a national party tried to disturb the federal structure of the country. The then Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah almost challenged the provisions of the Constitution which disallows a state to have a separate flag.
Tricolour, symbol of country’s sovereignty
India is one united country and it cannot have two flags. Similarly, flag code does not allow any state to have a separate flag. Tricolour is the symbol of unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. It emotionally unites the people of India. Those insulting the flag should keep in mind that India will never forgive them. The 135 crore indians are united if there is a question on the National integrity arises. But it is highly unfortunate that some insane people are defending and trying to end the matter where this kind of anti national activity took place by saying that no flag was insulted at Red Fort. This is shameful and unbearable.
Extent of treason
Everyone knows that some disguised enemies are also present in the country, but the persons insulting the tricolour simply come under the purview of treason. These anti national elements should be asked why are they acting traitorously even after getting benefitted by the country?
Before we move ahead let’s have a look of the past. On 28th May 1953,sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand stepped on the highest peak of the world, Mount Everest. Tenzing Norgay hoisted the tricolour immediately after stepping on the Everest. Many generations got thrilled by looking at the picture of his achievement. Tenzing Norgay was born in Nepal but settled in Darjeeling, India in his childhood.
Could India forget the prideworthy images of our warriors wherein they celebrate their victory with the tricolour after defeating the enemies in various battles? Once the great tennis player of India Leander Paes said that during his play his spirit of victory increases multifold when he sees any spectator with flag .
The tricolour of the country in its current form was adopted in the meeting of the Indian constituent assembly held on 22nd July 1947. The national flag of India is a horizontal rectangular tricolour of saffron(kesari), white and india green. Actually, the entire nationals have a similar kind of sentiment with respect to the tricolour. There are some exceptions. Some among these insane anti national elements hoisted other flags at the place of tricolour at Red Fort on this Republic day. The entire country is angry on this act. Everyone is hoping that these people will get strict punishment.
It is not limited just to insult. In India, we often encounter people who shows close mindedness and comment negatively on national anthem. In past, some mentally ill elements have demanded amendment in this. Is amendment in national anthem even possible? Should national anthem have “mangal” word at the place of “adhinayak”? Could any word be added in place of the “Sindh” in national anthem? It was demanded as Sindh is not a part of india, word Sindh should be removed from national anthem. Why such kind of nonsense talk even takes place? Arab people came to India after crossing the Sindhu river. In Arabic language ‘sa’ is pronounced as ‘ha’ that’s why it was pronounced Hind rather than Sindh. How can’t Hind be Sindh? In 2005 a person named Sanjeev Bhatnagar filed a PIL in Supreme Court where he demanded to remove Sindh from national anthem on the basis that Sindh is no longer part of India. On 13th May 2005,this litigation was rejected by the bench headed by the CJI R. C. Lahoti and they quoted the petition as “substandard and childish” and fined the petitioner with ten thousand rupees.
Let’s take an another example of this kind. A few years back national anthem was banned in a school of Prayaag city Of Uttar Pradesh. When the matter got aggravated,police arrested the warden Zia-Ul-Haq. Haq defending his act said that “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata” in national anthem was not used correctly. According to Haq, how can Bharat be the creator/lord of all the residents of India. It is against Islam. Untill when our patriot citizens tolerate the activities of anti nationals in the name of secularism? Now the entire country is expecting from the government to take strict actions against people indulged in insult of the tricolour. Guilty should never be spared.
(Writer is senior editor, columnist and former MP)
