Complaint against Hazare and team for insulting tricolour

NEW DELHI: A court here has issued a notice to Delhi Police for their response on a complaint against social activist Anna Hazare, his team and the Delhi government for allegedly disrespecting the national flag during their protests and hunger strike in August this year.

"The complainant has filed complaint against accused Kiran Bedi and other accused persons. Notice be issued to SHO for report on November 25," Metropolitan Magistrate Tyagita Singh said.

The court issued the notice to SHO of Kamla Market on a complaint made by Ravinder Kumar, an advocate, seeking registration of an FIR against Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and six others for allegedly disrespecting the Indian flag during their protests.

He said Hazare and his team had travelled from Tihar Jail to Ramlila Ground in a mini-truck decorated with national flags when law grants the privilege of waving it on vehicles only to certain constitutional and statutory authorities.

Referring to a news article, Kumar said "torn Indian flags were waived and flaunted upside down and even sat upon and used for wiping sweat" during Hazare's anti-corruption protest.

The complainant has also alleged that during the hunger strike, Hazare called upon the countrymen to engage in peaceful protest and not to destroy public property but did not ask anyone not to disrespect the Indian flag.