Kochi: A photograph, purportedly taken at Kochi's Lulu Mall in Kerala, showing a Pakistan flag placed above an Indian flag, has been circulating on social media platforms on Tuesday.
The image displays a collection of national flags within the mall, coinciding with the ongoing cricket World Cup in India.
The photo has widely been shared on social media calling for action against the Lulu Mall management for breaching the flag code which says that no flag should be positioned above the Indian national flag.
The photograph revealed a collection of national flags adorning the mall's interior, aligning with the festive spirit of the cricket World Cup. Social media users expressed outrage, citing a violation of the flag code, which stipulates that no flag should be positioned above the Indian national flag.
Amidst the online uproar, Lulu Mall issued a statement denying the allegations. The mall's management clarified that the flags were suspended at the same level within the atrium and that the optical illusion of varying sizes arose from specific viewing angles. They emphasized that when observed from below, all flags appeared to be of equal size.
The controversy prompted Lulu Mall to address the public directly, asserting that the setup was part of their celebration of the ICC World Cup's inaugural ceremony. They attributed the misunderstanding to a viral misinformation campaign on social media.
In response to the misleading narrative circulating online, Lulu Mall warned of potential legal action against those spreading false information. They urged the public to verify information before participating in the ongoing social media campaign against the mall.