A video showing a Congress worker taking off the shoes of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with the Indian flag in his hand has prompted an attack from the BJP, which has accused the Congress leader of “insulting the nation’s pride”. Mr Siddaramaiah is already under fire from the BJP and its ally, the Janata Dal (Secular), over his alleged involvement in the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) ‘scam’. 

The video has also sparked outrage among some people on social media, who said it was distasteful and called for the flag being respected. 

During an event in Bengaluru on Wednesday to pay respect to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, Mr Siddaramaiah, 76, stood waiting as a Congress worker took off his shoes. A video showed the worker holding a small Tricolour in his left hand as he did so and a person, who appears to be part of Mr Siddaramaiah’s security team, can be seen taking the flag from him. 

Reacting to the incident, senior BJP leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy said it was an insult and showed the Congress’ “culture”. 

“It’s an insult to the Nation’s pride, this is the culture of Congress party leaders, they must apologise to the Nation,” Mr Reddy wrote on X. 

It’s insult to Nation’s pride,this is the culture of Congress party leaders, they must apologise to the Nation

— Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ReddySudhakar21) October 2, 2024

Mr Siddaramaiah is facing cases from the Lokayukta and the Enforcement Directorate after an activist complained that the allotment of plots of land in a prime area of Mysuru to the chief minister’s wife as compensation for land in a village nearby caused a loss of Rs 45 crore to the state. 

The 14 plots of land were allotted to BN Parvathi in Mysuru’s Vijayanagar Phase 3 and 4 by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) as compensation for the use of 3.16 acres of land in Kesare village near the city.

On Tuesday, MUDA said it had agreed to take back the plots from Ms Parvathi after she offered to give them up, stating that she was following her conscience. 

MUDA Commissioner AN Raghunandan said instructions have also been given to cancel the sale deeds. “This has no link with the investigation. We will inform the investigators if there is a probability of allotting this to someone else. There are provisions in the law. We will inform the Lokayukta and other investigating officers,” he added.

Mr Siddaramaiah has maintained that the land was gifted to his wife by her brother. “When I have done no wrong, why should I resign? The land was de-notified by senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, not by me. My legal team will fight this,” the chief minister said on Tuesday. 

BY Vijayendra, who is the Karnataka BJP chief and son of BS Yediyurappa, hit back and said that the fact that the plots were being returned was like Mr Siddaramaiah admitting his mistake.

India’s National Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Indian national flag on July 22, 1947, by the Constituent Assembly, a few days before the country attained Independence from the British on August 15, 1947. This day is significant as it honours the symbol of India’s unity, integrity and sovereignty, according to government website Know India.

Design and symbolism of the flag

The Indian national flag, known as the “Tiranga”, features three horizontal stripes of equal width. The top stripe is saffron (kesaria), representing courage and sacrifice. The middle stripe is white, symbolising peace and truth, with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra (wheel) at its centre, which signifies the eternal wheel of law. The bottom stripe is green, denoting growth and auspiciousness. The flag’s proportions are in the ratio of 2:3 and the Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes, representing continuous progress.

Historical context

The flag’s design, adopted just weeks before India’s Independence, was chosen to replace the earlier version. The Ashoka Chakra replaced the spinning wheel, or “Charkha,” which was a symbol of self-reliance and resistance during the freedom struggle. This change was suggested by Badr-ud-Din Tyabji and endorsed by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Flag Code of India

The Flag Code of India was modified in 2002, allowing citizens to display and use of the national flag on any day and not just National days as was the case earlier, but with respect and dignity. Citizens are permitted to fly the flag throughout the year, provided they adhere to the guidelines, which include hoisting the flag between sunrise and sunset unless adequately illuminated at night.

Significance and observance

National Flag Day is not only a day to honour the flag but also an opportunity to reflect on the values and sacrifices associated with India’s freedom struggle. Schools, government institutions and various organizations often hold ceremonies to pay tribute to the national symbol and educate citizens about its importance.

India’s National Flag Day reminds every Indian of their collective identity and the ideals that the flag embodies. It serves as a powerful symbol of the country’s rich heritage and ongoing journey towards progress and unity.

New Delhi:

A 108-foot flagpole bearing the Indian tricolour has been mounted at Kaman Post near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir to symbolise national pride and unity, officials said on Thursday.

A plaque was unveiled on Thursday to mark its inauguration.

The event was attended by Major General Ashim Kohli (retired) of the Flag Foundation of India, Brigadier K S Dahiya, Commander, Kalapahar Brigade, and other eminent dignitaries, the officials said.

A large number of people, including school children, locals and tourists, were present at the inauguration event, they added.

The dedication of the 108-foot flagpole at Kaman Post commenced with a stirring address to the crowd.

A speaker eloquently recounted the illustrious history of India’s national flag, tracing its transformation throughout the years. The guest of honour then officially inaugurated the flagpole, a senior official said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)