Maha Minister unfurls flag upside down, 2 cops suspended

NAGPUR/MUMBAI: Unfurling of tri-colour upside down by a Maharashtra minister during a function in Vidarbha has sparked off a controversy with two policemen being suspended for negligence in fixing the tri-colour.

State Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute, during Maharashtra Day function at Washim district headquarters on Thursday, hoisted the flag upside down.

A clerk from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd, who was also present at the parade ground function, noticed the serious lapse and brought it to the notice of the minister.

The flag was lowered and again hoisted by Pachpute.

The police swung into action and ASI Tulshiram Chandrabhan Ambhore and constable Ajay Dayaram Akharao were suspended for failing to discharging their duties.

The minister, however, sought to alienate himself from the controversy on Friday and sources close to him said: "It was not his mistake. The policeman who was supposed to have handed over one of the two flag strings to Pachpute kept it with himself and handed over the other to the minister, resulting in the flag being unfurled in reverse."

"Anyway, whatever has happened should not have happened. The two policemen who were supposed to have been responsible for the flag and its proper hoisting, have been suspended", they said.

Offences under Section 2 of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 were registered against the duo.