From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday attacked the Modi Government amending the National Flag Code to permit manufacture and import of polyester national flags.
Its spokesman Dr Ajoy Kumar said: “This is another stark reminder tht our pseudo-nationalist ruling party has no understanding of our freedom struggle.” So far, only khadi was used to manufacture the Tricolour.
Backing the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyog Samyukta Sangha for withdrawal of this amendment in the code, he said the Congress supports its decision to hold a Dhwaja Satyagraha on July 30.
“The Indian tricolour (tiranga) is a symbol of the nation’s freedom and sovereignty. Its khadi signifies how the people of India defeated the mighty British Empire using the simple charkha, a symbol of self-sufficiency, spiritual humility, national integrity, social equality, communal harmony and ahimsa.”
Dr Ajoy Kumar said these are values alien to the BJP and its predecessors who played no role in the freedom movement, in the design of the national flag or in the popularisation of khadi.
Rather, the BJP is inspired by the Hindu Mahasabha that formed coalitions with the Muslim League in Sind, Bengal and the North West Frontier Province to subvert nationalist forces, namely the Congress. Its parent organisation the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) refused for half a century to hoist the tiranga at its Nagpur headquarters, he said.
He pointed out the contradiction in Prime Minister Modi presenting himself as the custodian of India’s Khadi industry and even asking the Indians to purchase Khadi products in one of his “Mann ki Baat” addresses last year and his government permitting the import of machine-made and imported polyester flags.
Dr Ajoy Kumar accused the PM of attacking the essence of Khadi and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, making “a mockery of har ghar tiranga campaign into har ghar mein China ka bana hua tiranga.” He said the self-styled champion of Khadi will preside over the death of khadi, revealing himself as a polyester monopolist.
He said the PM lectures other Indians to be “Vocal for Local,” but he took the decision to import the entire bronze exterior of the Statue of Unity and his regime presides over 45% jump in imports from China to a record US $94 billion in 2021-22. He said Modi has now opened the door to the mass import of the Indian flags from China at a time when the Chinese troops remain in occupation of 1,000 km of fresh territory in Ladakh.
Pointing out that the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha is the only unit licensed to produce khadi national flags, the Congress spokesman said it is facing closure as a result of this decision.
