GUWAHATI: The president of state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bhabesh Kalita, found himself in the midst of controversy after an FIR was lodged against him for hoisting the Tricolour upside down during the 77th Independence Day celebrations, on August 16.
The complaint, filed by three residents of Nagaon district at the Nagaon Sadar Police Station, alleges that Kalita’s actions of unfurling the National Flag upside down amount to engaging in a “treasonous” act.
Earlier on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day, Kalita, along with other party members, gathered at the BJP’s state headquarters in Guwahati to hoist the Tricolour. However, the flag was inadvertently hoisted upside down, with the green strip appearing on top instead of the saffron.
Although the mistake was not immediately noticed by Kalita or the party leaders, some vigilant party workers brought the error to their attention after Kalita had concluded his speech. Swiftly rectifying the situation, Kalita lowered the flag and hoisted it again, this time in the correct manner.
The incident has since stirred a heated debate, with criticism directed at Kalita for what some are calling a “careless move”. Social media platforms have been abuzz with comments, with one user asserting, “It is a serious offense to hoist the national flag upside down. Kalita should be held accountable for his actions (sic).”
In response, the Assam BJP chief offered an apology, stating that he and his team had not realised the flag was unfurled incorrectly.
The Flag Code of India, 2022, explicitly prohibits the hoisting of the Tricolour upside down, with violations potentially leading to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both.
