This year India will be celebrating 74th Independence Day on 15th August, but due to ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the celebration will be low key, and no public gathering will be allowed. But on the eve of Independence Day, people are selling masks with colours and patterns of the National Flag.
Congress leader Digambar Kamat demanded a ban on these masks with the Tricolour and Ashok Chakra printed on it. The former Goa Chief Minister took to twitter to protest the masks with the colours and pattern of the National flag, which are being sold ahead of 15th August.
“Disturbed by seeing this photo on Social Media. I urge @PMOIndia to issue directions to all States and Ban use of Masks in Tricolour with Ashok Chakra. Let us all respect our National Flag,” he tweeted.
The National Flag in India signifies the Country’s sovereign state, history, and culture. On 16th August 1947, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the final design of the Indian National Flag at Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi and had a history of many decades leading Independence.
Saffron on top symbolizes “strength and courage”, white in the middle represent “peace and truth” and green at the bottom stands for “fertility, growth, and auspiciousness of the land”. The Ashok Chakra with 24 spokes replaced the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag.
It is intended “to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.” Even this year for the first time, the Indian National Flag will be hoisted at Times Square, New York, on 15th August.
Even recently, in Ranchi, the Additional District Magistrate issued a strict ban on the sale of tricolour masks and also warned of strict actions against those who violets following the National Flag code. They ordered the local police to keep an eye on the markets selling designed masks with Tricolour and Ashok chakra.
The idea of designing Tricolour on masks is a complete disgrace to the Indian flag. If people buy these masks, then there is a possibility of improper disposal of such masks, which will be utterly disrespectful to the National flag as per the flag code.
The Flag Code of India, which was introduced in 2002, has a set of rules, laws, and practices that applies to the display of the National flag. And anyone violating any of the laws or regulations mentioned in this code is considered a punishable crime.
Article Written by Dikhya Mohanty
Image Source: Google
