On Independence Day 2023, as India celebrates 77 years of independence, a terrible instance of disrespect against the Indian National Flag has come to light. The shocking event took place in West Bengal on Monday, August 14.
There is a viral video of the incident circulating online. On the terrace of a house, the Indian flag and a saffron flag are displayed, and the video shows a young youngster climbing up to take a look. Both flags are taken down and discarded by the young child. The incident took place in plain view of nearby law enforcement.
Defames the National Flag
In front of a massive audience, the Tricolor was treated with contempt. The child’s ascent to the roof of the building was recorded on camera in the West Bengal district of Basirhat.
After making it to the roof, the boy attacked the National Flag after removing and throwing the saffron flag on the ground. He tore down the tricolor and tossed it to the pavement below. After that, he tore down some posters from the structure’s wall.
This is from Basirhat, West Bengal.
1st he threw Saffron Flag then National Flag .
Had they stopped him at Saffron flag, he would not dare to touch National Flag.
This is what exactly happening in India.#IndependenceDayIndia #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/G4tObLHyFA
— Ankit Yadav (@Ankit4People) August 15, 2023
A large audience witnessed the incident, and police were present.
The onlookers and law enforcement personnel ignored the child’s antics. The disrespect shown to the National Flag may have been prevented had they intervened while the child took down the saffron flag. The flag-burning incident surfaced while the country was commemorating its 77th anniversary of independence.
Suvendhu Adhikari, a BJP politician, responds.
BJP politician Suvendhu Adhikari posted a video of the incident to social media, along with the caption, “I hang my head in shame that this incident has happened in West Bengal.” The Indian flag was stomped on and discarded without regard for its significance.
Yesterday, in front of police officers, this heinous crime was committed in Itinda, Basirhat, North 24-Parganas. The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act of 1950 includes the Indian national flag in its Schedule of Emblems.
Whoever, in any public place or other places within 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 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 life.” This is from Section 2 of The Prevention of Insults to National Hon
All of the norms, as mentioned earlier, have been broken by despicable behavior. I am writing to the Chief Secretary, the Director-General of West Bengal Police, the Superintendent of Police for the Basirhat Police District, and the District Magistrate for North 24-Parganas to request that they “apprehend the perpetrators and take the harshest possible action against them per the law.”
I hang my head in shame that this incident has happened in West Bengal.
The Indian Flag has been disrespectfully grubbed up and thrown to the ground. This dispicable incident occurred yesterday at Itinda, Basirhat; North 24-Parganas, in front of Police personnel.
The Indian… pic.twitter.com/1TQdWyXaOX
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) August 14, 2023
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The Har Ghar Tiranga movement
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a speech to the entire country from the historic Red Fort. In addition, the Prime Minister has launched a program called ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ to educate the general public about the significance of the National Flag.
The Prime Minister promised that the tricolor would fly over every home in the country as part of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. The Indian public has to be educated about the seriousness of disrespecting the Indian flag if such incidents are to be prevented.
