Sport the Tricolour with respect: New bill

New Delhi: Wear your love for the national flag by all means, but do it with respect, seems to be the message in the new legislation introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, aimed at preventing insult to the Tricolour. With this, sportspersons, among them cricketers, can sport the flag on their helmets, T-shirts, sports accessories etc. “in a respectable manner.”

Introduced by minister of state for home, Manikrao Gavit, the bill further amends the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1971, in effect relaxing the provisions. The flag cannot be used “as a portion of costumes, uniform, or accessory of any description worn below the wait, not it would be used by way of embroidering or printing in items of daily use such as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any dress material,” the statement of objects and reasons of the legislation says. It notes that the existing restrictions that banned the use of the flag on sports gear and T-shirts was found to be “demotivating” the general public and sportspersons by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs that went into the issue.

The existing restrictions include: using the national flag as a drapery, dipping it in salute to any person, flying it half-mast except on occasions on which the flag is flown on the death of a national dignitary use as a portion of costume of uniform, putting any kind of inscription on the national flag, allowing it to touch the ground or trailing it in water intentionally, draping it over the hood, top and sides of vehicles, train or aircraft and intentionally displaying it with “saffron” down.”

(Courtesy: The Times of India; August 23, 2005)