The HA R Ghat Tirana initiative of the Narendra Modi government has got mired in controversy, with the Bhatia Jana ta Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress indulging in a blame game. Amid the war of words, the BJP’s ideological mentor – the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) – finds itself in the crossfire.
The Modi government has been celebrating the 75th year of independence as ‘Azad key Amit Mahouts’ since August 15 last year. The grand celebrations will culminate on Independence Day this year.
The central government launched a program called ‘HA R Ghat Tirana’ and exhorted the 20 crore households in the country to hoist the national flag in their homes from August 13 to August 15.
Making an addition to the ‘HA R Ghat Tirana’ initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 91st ‘Mann k Ba at’ radio program on July 31, suggested that everyone could change her or his display picture (DP) on social media platforms to the tricolor from August 2 – the birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya, who designed the national flag – till Independence Day.
Beginning of the Tirane controversy
While the PM, his council of ministers, BJP leaders and supporters and several government departments changed their DP to the tricolor on August 2, leaders of the opposition parties, particularly the Congress, did not follow suit.
In fact, the BJP’s alliance partners such as Jana ta DAL (U) in Bihar and the Shiv Sean faction led by Maharashtra chief minister Elnath Shine also did not oblige the PM.
However, a day later on Wednesday, Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi VDA and Jairam Ramesh changed their DP with the Tirana. The Congress also changed the hashtag from ‘HA R Ghat Tirana’ to ‘My Tirana, My Pride’.
But the BJP mocked the Congress for the DP showing India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru holding the tricolor. In a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sam bit Para accused the Congress of following “dynasty” even in a national event. He said Congress leaders could have kept a picture of just the national flag.
Congress attacks RSS
While changing their DP to the tricolor, several senior Congress leaders also launched a counter-offensive against the BJP.
Raja Sabra MP and Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, "We are putting DP of our leader Nehru with tricolor in hand. But it seems that the message of the prime minister did not reach his family only. Those who did not hoist the flag in their headquarters in Nagpur for 52 years, will they obey the prime minister?"
Congress's media and publicity department chairman Pavan Kiera exhorted RSS leaders to adopt the tricolor. He included in his tweet the screenshots of the accounts of the RSS and its chief Mohan Bharat who had not changed their DP to the tricolor.
Indian Youth Congress president B V Srinivasan said, "There is no respect for the tricolor in the heart of those who have not contributed to freedom".
Several other Congress leaders took potshots at the BJP over the RSS and its functionaries not changing in their DP.
Controversy over HA R Ghat Tirana bike rally
The Union culture ministry organized a "HA R Ghat Tirana "Bike Rally from red fort to INDIA gate on Wednesday. The rally flagged off by The Vice president M.Venkaiyah Naidu, was meant fo Members of Parliament(MPS).
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