Minister beats hasty retreat

Chhota-Udepur, Vadodara, Aug 15 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai Rathwa, who had threatened yesterday to commit suicide if the tricolour was not unfurled here at the secretariat building on Independence Day, now plans to file a PIL in the Gujarat High Court as soon as the court reopens.

Insisting that it was his intrinsic right to unfurl the tricolour at the secretariat building he however, beat a hasty retreat today to his native village Chichod, 10 km from here, where he unfurled the flag at a school 'Buniyad Ashramshala', owned by him.

To a question why he did not attempt suicide as announced yesterday, Mr Rathwa said ''How can I when so many commandoes and police force at the secretariat building were stopping me from entering the building.'' He also lamented that his name was omitted from the invitees to the function at the secretarial building.

Mr Rathwa's anger stems from the fact that he as the elected representative of the people ought to hoist the flag at the secretarial building which falls in his constituency. Last year too he was denied this opportunity.

Meanwhile, it was Deputy Collector (SDM) Setansi Baria who had the honour today of hoisting the flag at the secretariat building.

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