Following the disgraceful incident, another major goof-up ensued when district police chief Vaibhav Saxena, district collector in-charge ADM A K Ramendran, and other top police officers saluted the upside-down flag
Kasaragod: In a major embarrassment for the CPM-led Left Government, Minister Ahamed Devarkovil on Wednesday hoisted the national flag upside down during the Republic Day celebrations at the Kasaragod Municipal Stadium in Vidyanagar.
Following the disgraceful incident, another major goof-up ensued when district police chief Vaibhav Saxena, district collector in-charge ADM A K Ramendran, and other top police officers saluted the upside-down flag.
The authorities noticed the mistake only when it was spotted only journalists were present at the venue.
A few minutes later, the flag was lowered and re-hoisted.
According to the reports, District police chief Saxena would submit a report on the gaffe to Kannur range deputy inspector general Rahul R Nair.
Displaying the tricolour with the "saffron" down amounts to disrespect to the national flag.
As per the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, “Whoever in any public place or in any other place 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 by 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 three years, or with fine, or with both.”
Ahammad Devarkovil is a leader of the Indian National League, a breakaway faction of the Muslim League. INL is a coalition partner of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). Ahammad is the Minister of Ports, Museums, Archaeology and Archive in the CPM-led Left Government.
