Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi today unfurled the Indian national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar as part of his luxurious ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi unfurls the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/I4BmoMExfP
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2023
However, as seen in the above video, Rahul Gandhi’s own cutout was larger and taller than the Indian flag which many felt was disrespectful and disgusting behaviour by a senior leader like Rahul Gandhi.
Netizens were quick to point out the seemingly disrespectful behaviour by Rahul Gandhi.
Sound not well but they sung 'jhanda huncha rahe hamara' instead of national anthem after unfurls of national flag. Why?? Raga darr gaya kya?? 🤔
— Param| PCS (@FunMauji) January 29, 2023
Cutout above flag🤡🤡 NO SHAME AT ALL
— NirVana🌟 (@Khayaalii) January 29, 2023
People pointed out how it is a shame that Rahul Gandhi’s cutout was bigger than the flag.
It is a shame that Portrait if Rahul Gandhi appears bigger than the National Flag pic.twitter.com/f2ZapxMz6z
— Aashish (@kashmiriRefuge) January 29, 2023
Some even pointed out how the fact that the Indian National Flag was raised at the Lal Chowk in Srinagar was possible because of PM Modi and HM Shah who abrogated the Article 370 which made Jammu & Kashmir an integral part of India without any riders attached.
Ye sab Modi ji aur Amit Shah ki wajah se kar pa rahe ho….
— Devinder Singh Rawat (@Devinder_SRawat) January 29, 2023
Earlier, at peak of Pakistan backed Islamist terrorism in the valley, there have been instances where the Pakistan flag was unfurled at Lal Chowk and the India national flag was not allowed to be hoisted there.
Even Congress friendly ‘intellectuals’ were upset at the flag hoisting.
Horrible optics by #BharatJodoYatraInJK…Why this huge cutout of Rahul Gandhi as a backdrop to the national flag? And I’m not even getting into the flag hoisting at Lal Chowk because despite his statement the other day about “outsiders” administering J&K, he too is mainstream. https://t.co/yDcVX0P63Z
— Farzana Versey (@farzana_versey) January 29, 2023
They were upset how despite claiming ‘outsiders’ were administering J&K, Rahul Gandhi unfurled the Indian flag in Srinagar as he too is ‘mainstream’.
Netizens also speculated whether this disrespect for the national anthem was also in violation of the Flag Code.
looks like @RahulGandhi has violated the #Indian Flag Code… https://t.co/rh61NM04Un pic.twitter.com/sEUNvMMmk5
— mj 🇮🇳 (@monalchirps) January 29, 2023
As per the Flag Code, no other flag or bunting should be placed higher or side by side with the flag. And while it does not specify a larger than the flag cutout, many felt this could also be violating the Flag Code.
Congress had said Rahul Gandhi won’t unfurl Indian National Flag at Lal Chowk as it was ‘RSS agenda’
Earlier this month, AICC in-charge of Jammu & Kashmir and party MP Rajni Patil had said that Gandhi will not hoist India’s national flag at Lal Chowk. She had said that the party believes that the unfurling Tricolour at the Lal Chowk in Kashmir is part of ‘the RSS agenda’. Instead, Gandhi will hoist the national flag at party headquarters in Srinagar on January 30, Patil had said.
Alleging that the Congress together with National Conference has utilized Lal Chowk as a symbol of specific ideology since 1947, he added that “even if it wants to unfurl the Tricolour there, it will make uneasy both the National Conference and PDP who are supporting the Rahul Gandhi yatra”.
