For the past 24 hrs Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been facing heavy criticism from congress for putting his autograph on what appeared to be an Indian flag.
Following the allegation the government of India released a clarification on the issue. They said that it was not a flag but just a memento on which Modi signed. The artwork has been taken for review.
Going into the details, the controversy erupted after super chef Vikas Khanna, who had dished up the fare for the prime minister’s dinner with Fortune 500 CEOs on Thursday, approached Modi with the flag crafted by children of Smile India Foundation to be gifted to President Barack Obama. When Khanna told him that he wanted to present it to Obama, Modi autographed it.
The story broke after Khanna displayed the autographed flag to the media. According to the rules governing the national flag, putting any inscription on the flag is considered disrespect. Twitter was abuzz on Friday under the hashtag #ModiDisrespectsTricolor after the incident, which evoked a sharp reaction from the Congress.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in New Delhi: “We are not petty like BJP. We respect the office of the prime minister… However high you may be, the national flag is above you, you should understand this.”
Congress leader 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.”
However, Press Information Bureau director general (media and communication) Frank Noronha clarified that the “memento signed by PM Modi did not have the Ashok Chakra on it or the ‘white’ colour band on it”.
He also tweeted: “Story about PM Modi disrespecting the tricolor is false and mischievous. PM didn’t autograph the flag.”
“The flag autographed by PM #narendramodi was a design made by an enthusiastic child with unique abilities. It is not the #tricolour.” Later it came to light that the memento was in fact painted by a differently-abled girl in Mr. Khanna’s foundation.
