As Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy performing asanas during the grand celebration of International Yoga day, some of his post- asana activities have now dragged him into a controversy. He has been accused of insulting the national flag by a social worker of Pondicherry, who has lodged a complaint against Modi for wiping his face using the tricolour scarf he was wearing.
Requesting the police to conduct an inquiry, the complainant sought to register a case against Modi under the Prevention of Dishonour to National Flag Act.
But this is not the first time when such a mistake has been identified and subsequently a case has been filed. We dug up a couple more of these ‘outrageous’ claims for your benefit:
When Big B and Small B mishandled the tricolour
Legendary Bollywood actor, Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan were spotted covering their bodies with the national flag, after which a case was registered against father-son duo in a Ghaziabad court. T he complainant had said the actors were seen with the national flag during the India-Pakistan World Cup cricket match in Adelaide on February 15, 2015.
Master Blaster’s not so tasty cake
In 2011, a petition was filed against ex-cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in Madras High Court for insulting the national flag. Sachin was accused of insulting the national flag by cutting a cake made in the colours of the national flag.
Mallika chose the wrong attire to cover herself
Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat created a massive outrage after posters of her, wrapped in national flag were out everywhere. The protest was made by a 24-year-old law graduate, Sumit Kumar, who alleged, in his complaint, that the poster clearly showed Mallika Sherawat insulting the national flag by using it as a costume. The case was moved to a civil court in New Delhi.
Off-court controversy for Sania
In January 2008, a case was filed against Sania Mirza for allegedly disrespecting the national flag. The complainant alleged that Mirza had disrespected the national Tricolour by putting her feet towards the flag during a function reports of which were widely carried across the print media.
When Badshah held it ulta
The Badshah of bollywood too drew flak by waving the national flag upside down in Mumbai after India won the cricket World Cup on April 2, 2011. While waving the flag, he ignored the fact that the saffron colour was at the bottom and the green colour was on top.
What does the Constitution says?
Whoever in any public place or in any other place within the public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings 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 with fine, or with both.
According to the Constitution, everyone mentioned above has gone against the Constitution. Modi’s act of using the flag to wipe his face definitely went against the above-mentioned Constitution.
