Congress seeks withdrawal of order permitting mass import of polyester nationwide flags from China

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Dubbing the ruling BJP “pseudo nationalist”, the Congress on Friday alleged that it has no understanding of the liberty battle and its symbols, and sought the withdrawal of the modification to the National Flag code that enables the manufacture and import of polyester flags.

Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened the door to mass import of Indian flags from China at a time when the Chinese troops stay in occupation of 1,000 sq. kilometres of recent territory in Ladakh.

He additionally introduced Congress’ assist to the “Dhwaja Satyagrah” introduced by the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha on July 30 in assist of their calls for and withdrawal of the modification to the regulation.

Kumar stated Modi presents himself because the custodian of India’s khadi trade and had made a name to Indians to buy ‘khadi’ merchandise final yr in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ handle.

The prime minister lectures Indians to be ‘Vocal for Local’, however his choices are extra within the spirit of ‘Shanghai ki Mehengai’, be it importing the bronze exterior of Statue of Unity or 45 per cent soar in imports from China to a file USD 94 billion in 2021-22, he stated.

“By permitting the import of machine-made and imported polyester flags, PM Modi has attacked the essence of ‘khadi’ and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. While ensuring that thousands of workers lose their jobs, he has also made a mockery of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, making it into ‘Har Ghar Mein Cheen Ka Bana Hua Tiranga’. The self-styled champion of ‘khadi’ will preside over the death of ‘khadi’, revealing himself to be a ‘Polyester Monopolist’,” Kumar informed reporters.

Senior Congress chief Jairam Ramesh tweeted in Hindi saying those that by no means participated within the freedom battle won’t perceive the nation’s relationship with the tricolour.

“Those who didn’t take part within the freedom battle, didn’t hoist the tricolour in Nagpur for 52 years, what is going to they perceive concerning the nation’s relationship with the tricolour and khadi.

“By allowing the import of the polyester tricolour, arrangements have been made to install ‘Har Ghar China’s Tricolour’. Of that, China which has occupied our land,” Ramesh stated.

The BJP authorities’s resolution to amend the National Flag Code on the eve of the seventy fifth anniversary of India’s Independence, “Is another stark reminder that our pseudo-nationalist ruling party has no understanding of our freedom struggle,” Kumar alleged.

He stated the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha is the one unit licensed to supply khadi nationwide flags and is watching a closure because of this resolution.

“The Indian National Congress agrees with the demand of the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha for this amendment to be withdrawn and supports its decision to hold a Dhwaja Satyagraha on July 30, 2022. The Congress fully associates itself at the national and state level with its Dhwaja Satyagraha and urges all nationalist forces to join in,” he stated.

The Congress chief claimed that the Indian tricolour (tiranga) is an emblem of the nation’s freedom and sovereignty and its ‘khadi’ signifies how the individuals of India defeated the mighty British Empire utilizing the straightforward ‘charkha’, an emblem of self-sufficiency, non secular humility, nationwide integrity, social equality, communal concord and ahimsa.

“These values are 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,” he alleged.

Kumar stated the BJP is impressed by the Hindu Mahasabha that shaped coalitions with the Muslim League in Sind, Bengal and the North West Frontier Province to subvert “nationalist forces”.