New Delhi: Fresh controversy has erupted over BJP’s new ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement. Prime Minister Modi had urged people to strengthen the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement and asked them to hoist or display tricolour at home between 13-15 August. Opposition claimed that government wants to divert people’s attention from key issues by launching such campaigns. Congress Communications Chief Jairam Ramesh took a dig at the RSS, saying: “It seems the Prime Minister’s message hasn’t reached his own family (Sangh parivar) which didn’t hoist the national flag for 52 years at their Nagpur headquarters. Will they listen to the Prime Minister?”
Congress spokespersons Pawan Khera and Shrinate and Youth Congress Chief B.V. Srinivas too taunted RSS, asking it to at least adopt the Tricolour now. RSS has historically opposed the Tricolour in favour of the Bhagwa Dhwaj (saffron flag). It had refused to hoist the Tricolour at its Nagpur headquarters for over half a century. When the Congress sounded the call for Poorna Swaraj at its Lahore session in December 1929 and hoisted the Tricolour for the first time, it had appealed to all Indians to repeat the act on 26 January 1930. But then RSS Chief K.B. Hedgewar instructed the organization’s members to ignore the appeal and continue to worship the saffron flag.
His successor, M.S. Golwalkar, said that only the Bhagwa Dhwaj represented Indian culture. On the eve of Independence 1947, RSS-sympathetic Organiser had said, A flag with three colours will be harmful for the nation and cause negative psychological impact upon the citizens. Golwalkar later described the Tricolour as “patan ki nishani” (symbol of regression). Not only Congress leaders, but Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also slammed the RSS and the BJP for ignoring the importance of the Indian flag for decades.
Moreover, as part of Modi-led fascist Indian government’s attempts to Indianize IIOJK, Delhi-imposed administration has nominated nodal officers for the implementation of “Har Ghar Tiranga (Indian flag in each and every house)” initiative in the territory. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has said that Modi-led Indian government is forcing people to buy Indian flag for Har Ghar Tiranga’ [Indian flag at every home] campaign and asserted that “patriotism cannot be imposed”. Web Desk
