NEW DELHI: A row has erupted over BJP flag covering a part of the national flag covered the corpse of former minister of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh.
However, experts are divided on the matter.
Talking to TOI, Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi criticized the opposition and said negative spread is the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) of these people.
Naqvi totally disagree with the opposition leader alleged that the BJP had violated the Flag Code of India or insulting tricolor in any way.
Union minister said, “Some people have a problem.
Spreading negative in society has become their USP.
It is a culture and a tradition to meet the desires of people who are not more countries.
But some people who are blind, do political dynasty and indulge in sycophancy will not understand its importance.
” Naqvi referring to the desire of Kalyan Singh in one emotional speech that he wanted his body covered with BJP flag.
The controversy began with the Congress MP Shashi Tharoor objected to the manner in which the BJP flag placed on top of the national flag at Kalyan Singh’s body when they are stored for officials to pay their last respects in Lucknow August 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP nadda and BSP president Mayawati are some officials who pay their last tribute to Kalyan, who is also a former governor of Rajasthan.
He was cremated in Aligarh on Monday.
In a tweet, Tharoor said, “As a person who has to fight a court case over four years just to put a hand on my heart during the singing of the national anthem (not stand rigid attention), I think the nation should be told how the ruling party feel about this humiliation.” Opposition leaders, while criticizing the BJP, have based their arguments on two provisions relating to the national flag.
They cite Section 2 Prevention of Insult Law Honor National said, “An insult to Indian National Flag and the Constitution of India”, said: “Whoever in a public place or elsewhere in the public view burns, mutilates, defaces, Defiles, staining, crushing, trample on or show no respect or bring into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or a fine, or with both.
” Some opposition leaders pointed the number 3:16 Part IV of the Flag Code of India as saying, “There is no other flags or bunting should be placed higher than or above or, except as arranged, side by side with Flag National; or would each object, including interest or wreaths or symbol placed on or above the flag-pole where the flag is flown.
” Indian Youth Congress president BV Srinivas said they felt embarrassed at the insult to the national flag.
शान-ए-तिरंगा🇮🇳, हम शर्मिंदा है 🙏 https://t.co/pbM5fGAx4Y- BV Srinivas (@srinivasiyc) 1629652666000Former IAS officer Anil Swarup said on Twitter: “Knowing the end of Kalyan Singh ji as well as I do, he would hate to put party flags during the National flag.
Someone really screwed up here …
and others allowed to continue.
” End of Kalyan Singh ji know as well as I do, he would hate to put party flags during National Flag.
So …
https://t.co/GPbWG0MRlM- Anil Swarup (@ swarup58) 1629653823000However, constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap said he did not think that covered half of the national flag with the flags of the BJP is not respect a for the tricolor.
He said that according to the rules, which showed no respect or bring into contempt the Indian national flag should be punished.
“But no disrespect or humiliation as has been demonstrated by anyone in this regard.
There should be no politics on this issue.
This is a serious problem because a senior leader had died and his wish has been honored without insulting the National Flag.
It is infra dig to raise this issue.
” Kashyap further said he does not think it is the intention of anyone to disrespect the national flag.
“Whether or not it is an insult to the national flag is a matter of opinion,” he added.
But another former Lok Sabha secretary-general and constitutional experts PDT Achary state that includes the national flag with the flags of the BJP is an insult to the tricolor.
“Only the National flag used to drape the bodies of VIP.
No other flags are put on it.
This is not done, “he said.