Kerala minister unfurling national flag upturned gathers flak

Kasaragod: Kerala Minister Ahammad Devarkovil unfurled the national flag upside down at Republic Day celebrations in Kasaragod district of Kerala and sparked controversy, PTI reported.

After the incident, where the state minister for Port and Archaeology unfurled the flag at the Municipal Stadium here, opposition BJP demanded his resignation for disrespecting the national flag.

None of the important attendees, including people's representatives, police officials etc., who were present at the spot, noticed it. The minister saluted the flag after it was unfurled upside down and moved on to his speech despite some media troops who were covering the event pointing it out.

Later the attendees noted the wrong, and the minister re-did the unfurling, this time correctly.

In a statement, Kerala BJP president K Surendran called for the minister's immediate resignation and a police case against him, along with the officials for disrespecting the national flag. He said that it is of grave concern that the minister saluted the flag when it was upside down, and it is absurd that the minister nor the officials realised the error. Further, he demanded a probe into the incident by the state DGP. However, the curious fact is that Surendran himself had hoisted the national flag upside down during Independence Day last year, though he immediately rectified the mistake.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan, who was present at the spot, said the incident was unfortunate and sought the government to take action.

Last year, a district magistrate in Uttar Pradesh was also caught in a video hoisting the national flag upside down during the 73rd Independence Day. He had reasoned after the video went viral that he was doing a trial.