National flag insult: FIR against Orissa CM?

Bhubhaneswar, Dec 28: Ignorance is bliss, the fact proved by the Orissa Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and his ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD). He has been accused of insulting the National flag during the party's foundation day celebration.

"We received complaints tonight about the alleged incident. But police had so far not registered any case in this connection," Capital Police Station inspector-in-charge (IIC) Rabi Satpathy said. Two complaints were lodged by Bhabani Parija of Save Orissa Forum and Dipti Mohanty of Orissa Lok Dal, alleged that Biju Janta Dal (BJD), including the CM and other party workers showed a "disfigured" national flag at the BJD function.

A man from Gadakana village in Orissa apparently handed over to the CM the national flag bearing the name of Biju Janata Dal (BJD). A conch symbol (The poll symbol of BJD) was also allegedly painted on the national flag by erasing the "Ashok Chakra" placed at middle of the flag, the complaint said.

As if that's not all, the man who handed over the flag to the chief minister claimed that it had covered the body of Biju Patnaik before he was cremated at Swarga Dwar in Puri with full state honour.

"I congratulate the man who had preserved the flag that covered Biju Patnaik's body," Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani had told the gathering on Dec 27 little knowing that the flag code was allegedly insulted in the process.

"It is certainly a national flag and the man had written name of BJD with ink on it. He did it unwittingly," said local MLA Bhagirathi Badjena who felicitated the man to hand over the flag to chief minister. Opposition parties condemned the incident and demanded action against chief minister for "insulting" the national flag. "It is a punishable offence. Insulting the national flag is condemnable," said BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan.

Main opposition Congress demanded unconditional apology from Patnaik and stern action against all involved under provisions of National Flag Code, 1950.

OneIndia News
(With inputs from PTI)