WHAT WE SAID:
Three weeks back, in this column we advocated for an amendment
to our National Flag Act. Please refer to:
"Learn to Distinguish the Parliament from the Ruling Party"
. We reproduce here the contents of that article that pertains
to the issue of misuse of the National Flag: "One won't be less
patriotic if he/she is condemning hoisting our national flag
in a place if it is going to lead to blood-shed and deaths.
In fact, it is a disrespect to our National Flag. When it comes
to the question of humanity versus patriotism (it is not even
patriotism, it takes the shade of jingoism), one must be careful
in taking side. By saying that Uma's violation of the government
regulation to protect the law and order is a crime (even if
it involves hoisting the national flag), one does not become
less patriotic. If it is so, the Karnataka government in 1994
acted unpatriotic and hence the responsible authorities and
the minister in-charge of the law and order in 1994 must be
punished (because they were concerned about law and order of
the State/city rather than showing their patriotism by allowing
Uma to hoist the national flag in the sensitive maidan). It
is high time that we amend the National Flag Act and include
that any disrespect and misuse of the national flag for narrow
partisan reasons and/or the use of the National Flag to instigate
the violence in a locality would invite the life imprisonment.
Any political party supporting such an act would automatically
stand disqualified with immediate effect."
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID On 13th September 2004,
the Supreme Court expressed concern over the misuse of the national
flag and violations, and said that it would consider framing
guidelines to prevent the misuse of the tricolour. The court
also made it clear that it would not allow anybody to take political
mileage out of the national flag issue. Reference: http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/14/stories/2004091407401100.htm
