'Nationalism can never be sold'; Rahul Gandhi lashes out at govt for forcing to buy flag

New Delhi: On Wednesday, August 10, Congressman Rahul Gandhi claimed that retailers were pressuring ration card holders to purchase the national flag, and he accused the BJP of encouraging nationalism and undermining the dignity of the underprivileged. Rahul stated that tricolour is our pride and that it is there in every Indian's heart in a post on Facebook in Hindi. "Nationalism can never be sold. It is shameful that while giving ration, poor are being asked to cough up Rs 20 for the tricolour," Gandhi alleged.

The administration, however, denied the allegation that the underprivileged are being forced to purchase the flag as part of a government-mandated ration. "No such instruction has been given and an errant ration shop has been suspended for violating government orders and misrepresenting facts," the Press Information Bureau through its 'PIBFactCheck' handle on Twitter said.

"Along with the tricolour, the BJP government is also attacking the self-respect of the poor of our country," the Congress MP said as he shared a video purportedly showing some ration card holders complaining about being forced to pay Rs 20 to buy the flag. Earlier in the day, BJP MP Varun Gandhi too had alleged that ration card holders were being forced to buy the national flag as a condition to avail of the ration. He said it will be unfortunate if the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of Independence become a burden on the poor.

He, in a tweet in Hindi, said it was "shameful" to force the poor to pay for the 'Tiranga' and deny them their food. "'Tiranga' lives in the heart of every Indian," Varun Gandhi said in the same tweet. The Union government has urged people to hoist or display the national flag from their homes during August 13-15 as part of its 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme. The BJP has been running a campaign to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call a big success.

With PTI inputs