Wednesday, April 11, 2007 (11:48:03)

Indian Flag cut to pieces in Jamaica

New Delhi: Cricket is treated as nothing less than a religion in India and the star cricketers give fierce competition to Gods in the kind of adulation they receive and the kind of frenzy they create. But, no religion, no teachings and none of the Gods ever taught to dishonour the motherland or a symbol of it. However, the most revered cricketing god of the nation, Sachin Romesh Tendulkar was nonchalant and unperturbed when he cut the tri-colour cake at a party hosted by a Non-Resident Indian in Jamaica just before the World Cup on March 10. Now, the question that rises is, is this an act that can be pardoned? The photographs, which came into HeadlinesIndia’s possession show Sachin Tendulkar ready to cut a cake fashioned to represent the Indian tri-colour with Ashok Chakra in the middle (Tiranga) and everyone else present there including the Indians clapping and applauding the demise of Tiranga, for whose sanctity every 'belonging Indian' is always ready to lay down his life. Without an iota of respect to the motherland, it is no wonder the Indian cricket team lost the battle in the field.

But what comes as most surprising in the whole event, is the presence of an Indian diplomat, the Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, K L Agrawal. He was at the venue, cheering as this cake (read Tiranga) cutting ceremony progressed on. The whole of Indian team was present there and Zaheer Khan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh apart from Sachin Tendulkar are clearly visible in these photographs even. One can allow the fact to pass by, that the highly esteemed and patriotic cricketer in question was not aware of the act he was performing, but it is impossible to comprehend the fact, a veteran diplomat was not sensitive enough to pay respect to the national flag at an international forum. This grave insult bestowed on the Indian flag is not expected from a person who is there to promote and protect Indian rights.

Were’nt anyone present there aware of the Flag Code of India, 2002 and other laws governing the code of conduct vis-à-vis Indian tri-colour? As per the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, not only is this act unethical and insensitive, but it also amounts to an offence with a maximum of three years imprisonment or fine or both. The Act stipulates, “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 any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.” It should not be forgotten that the act of showing disrespect was committed at a party.

The expression, "Indian National Flag" includes any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the Indian National Flag, or of any part or parts thereof, made of any substance or represented on any substance. The cake used for the purpose, without any doubt, represented the Indian tri-colour.

Moreover, the cake had the wordings, “Wish you all the best” written on it. It is another offence as the explanation Four of the said Act clearly says that disrespect to the Indian flag includes putting any kind of inscription upon it. If the on-field performance of the Indian cricket team has exposed the reality of their claims of winning the world cup, this sin committed by a few Indians has exposed the hypocrisy behind their patriotic instincts. All the Indian players relentlessly boast of being the most patriotic of the lot. They feel hurt when they have to remove the painting of tri-colour from their helmet, but they laugh and clap when they chop their own national flag! They doom you in field, they chop you on table!

Players can be forgiven for their poor show at the World Cup, as cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. Even the NRI hosting that party could be forgiven for having forgotten the importance of the flag and for severing emotional attachment to Indian nationality. Players could have been ignorant, though not knowing a law is no defence against an offence, of the flag code, but must not the High Commissioner be asked why and how did he allow and get along with this state of affairs in his ‘sublime’ presence?

http://www.headlinesindia.com/sports/index.jsp?news_code=34104

as long as our nepali flag is intact, we are good.hehe