Officials in Punjab left red-faced after minister unfurls national flag upside down on I-Day

Amritsar: In a faux pas, Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majitiha on Saturday unfurled the national flag which was upside down during an Independence Day function in Amritsar and it was only corrected as the event was about to conclude. [caption id=“attachment_2394380” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Two police personnel responsible for the flag hoisting arrangement were suspended and a magisterial inquiry ordered into the incident as the red-faced officials claimed that flag was in the right position till early morning on Saturday and it would be probed if there was a “conspiracy”. Presiding over Independence Day ceremony at Guru Nanak Auditorium, Majithia, who is the state revenue minister, unfurled the national flag. The minister along with Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat and Commissioner Amritsar Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh saluted the national flag which was upside down. The mistake was not corrected even when Majithia delivered his speech and it was hoisted in the right position only when function was about to conclude. Asked about the goof-up, Majithia, who is the brother of Union minister Harsimrat Badal and brother-in-law of Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, told reporters that it is the district administration which should answer how it has happened. Later, officials said two police officials responsible for the flag hoisting arrangement have been suspended while suitable action against Superintendent of Police (Headquarter) was recommended to the state government in this regard. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Ravi Bhagat said a magisterial probe has been ordered to find whether there was any “conspiracy” behind the goof-up. They said the flag was in the right position during rehearsal on Saturday morning. “But it is shocking how the flag was upside down at the time of flag hoisting ceremony,” they said. Later, Majithia expressed his regret over the episode. He said that he had never experienced “such a lapse” in the past. “I have the highest respect and regards for the Indian national flag,” he said. He said he had had “the honour of attending several functions but never witnessed “such a lapse” before. He has directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Police Commissioner of Amritsar to take strict disciplinary action against the officials concerned. The minister said the administration should be more cautious in future while organising Independence Day functions. PTI