Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has stoked controversy after he unfurled an old flag of pre-1947 Indian National Congress instead of hoisting the National flag of the country on the occasion of the 2019 Republic Day, reports IBC 24.
Reportedly, on Saturday morning, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Baghel was present at Chattisgarh Congress headquarters in Raipur to celebrate the 70th Republic Day. However, in a video which has gone viral now, it can be seen that the Chief Minister of the state chose to unfurl the flag adopted by the INC in 1931 instead of India’s national flag causing disrespect to a national symbol.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S_9wSRelPs]
Bhupesh Baghel, who is the Chief Minister of the Chattisgarh has set a bad precedent by unfurling an old party flag of a political party, which has an objectionable political evolution. The unfurling of a political flag at a National event by a person serving the highest office of the state will attract huge criticism as there was an alleged attempt to demean the National symbols of the country.
Interestingly, he also chose the Congress venue as his first venue to celebrate the Republic Day and later went to the Police Parade ground to officially hoist the national flag on the occasion.
During the National Movement, the then Indian National Congress (INC) had adopted this tricolour at Karachi in 1931. The tricolour flag then adopted was designed by Pingali Venkayya, which featured three horizontal strips of saffron, white and green, with a “Charkha” in the centre. The colours were interpreted as saffron for courage, white for truth and peace, green for faith and prosperity. The “Charkha” symbolised the economic regeneration of India and the industriousness of its people.
