BJP opposed installation of Tiranga in Malviya Nagar; wrote to MCD demanding relocation of national flag: Somnath Bharti
BJP said it wants to hoist its own flag in the park so the Tiranga must not be installed at the spot: Somnath Bharti
With intervention of AAP and support of locals and RWA Hardeopuri, the installation of Tiranga has been started at the location: Somnath Bharti
NEW DELHI
Delhi witnessed the victory of the Tiranga against BJP’s bigotry today as AAP successfully secured the site designated for the national flag despite BJP’s protests. AAP Senior Leader and MLA Shri Somnath Bharti informed that the BJP had opposed the installation of Tiranga in Malviya Nagar. Its councillor even wrote to the MCD demanding relocation of the national flag from the park. He stated — the BJP said it wants to hoist its own flag in the park so the Tiranga must not be installed at the spot. But with the intervention of AAP and the support of locals and RWA, the installation of Tiranga has been started at the location after a long turmoil.
AAP Senior Leader and MLA Shri Somnath Bharti said, “I had raised this matter in the recent Vidhan Sabha session as well – of how the BJP is disrespecting our national flag. Our CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal presented a unique model in front of the country in the direction of Deshbhakti which brought out a clear difference between true and fake patriotism. Whenever we look at our national flag, our blood begins to boil against all those powers which are anti-national, anti-constitutional, and anti-Tiranga. The Delhi Government initiated a movement wherein it is installing 500 Tirangas across the state measuring 100-125 ft. And wherever these flags were put up, many journalists, general public and senior leaders expressed that a special emotion is invoked in them whenever they leave their homes for work and come across the Tiranga several times on their way.”
He continued, “Under this initiative, we decided to install the Tiranga in Maharaj Shoor Saini Park in my constituency. We took proper permission from the MCD, and reached the site for installation with the PWD. Upon my arrival, an incident so harrowing took place that shook me to my core. One person approached us and protested against the installation saying they will ‘not let it happen’. When asked why, they responded with the fact that it is the spot where their ‘Shakhas’ are put up. I asked whether our national flag is opposed in these shakhas and why can’t the shakhas be set up under the Tiranga – to which the concerned person responded ‘No, our flag is distinct.’ This appalled me. Which entity in this country considers their flag to be more important than our beloved Tiranga? The Tiranga, for the liberation of which lacs and crores sacrificed their lives; the Tiranga, for which soldiers and officers of our defence forces – the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army, BSF, CISF, CRPF – put their lives on the line and work relentlessly day and night, irrespective of the weather; to protect its honour; the Tiranga for which every single person belonging to this country is ready to give their life for – which flag can be greater and more important than our national flag – the Tiranga. So, to even hear the words ‘our flag is distinct’, truly hurt my sentiments.”
Shri Bharti said, “I am thankful to Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodia and Speaker Shri Ram Niwas Goyal for taking up the matter seriously when I put it across in the assembly. I thank them for reinforcing that nothing but our Tiranga deems the right of calling every inch of land in this country its own and that no one can prevent us from honouring that right. Being a local matter I tried to drive it towards an amicable solution but the BJP just refused to bear with the fact that we were installing the national flag in the park. They were instead proposing the relocation of the national flag so they could occupy the said land for their own. I told them then, and repeat it now, this is our national flag, the symbol of our independence, we’ll lay our lives before we let someone even touch it. This wasn’t it, the BJP Councillor Anil Sharma went ahead to write to the SDMC against this. He proposed that the location be changed because ‘there is a lot of space available for the same elsewhere’.”
He added, “we argued that the development work had already started. In fact it took place in the presence of the RWA members of the area, Munshi Ram Saini and B P Saini. When I reached the spot today morning I had decided that the flag would be installed as it was decided even if it meant that I’d have to sacrifice my life for it. The Delhi Police reached the spot too. They did try to support us but were scared to speak out against the BJP members. We toiled hard for 5-6 hours, the locals joined our fight and we won. The Tiranga won. The promise AAP had made through the Deputy CM got fullfiled.”
The MLA concluded, “we are still pained at how BJP acted against the national flag. I want to tell them that they might not have hoisted the national flag for 52 years in Nagpur but this doesn’t give them the right to act against the national flag. A senior functionary of theirs had recently threatened to replace the national flag with their own. I want to reinforce that nobody in this country can stop the Tiranga from being installed. If you think of shifting the Tiranga, you yourself will be shifted out. Those who don’t like our AAN BAAN SHAN Tirana should go to Pakistan. We won’t allow our Delhi to become Lal Chawk of Kashmir where for years, no one could hoist national flag.”