Modi "signs" national flag, social media attacks him for "violating code"; officials take it away to check code

By A Representative
Social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, is ripe with sharply-worded comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the allegation that he has “insulted” the national flag by signing on it. According to reports from New York, the signed flag was to be handed over by celebrity chef Vikas Khanna to President Barack Obama, whom plans to meet Modi after the latter’s visit to Silicon Valley. Khanna is said to be a four-time Michelin-starred chef. He reportedly cooked a feast on Thursday evening, which included sandalwood saffron sherbet, paneer ravioli, saffron sheermal and mango-ginger soup. Many of the dishes were from his coffee table book on festival cuisine in India, which, too, he was to present Obama.
Hitting hard on Modi, @TruthofGujarat, which has over 13,000 followers, tweeted that “after wiping his sweat using the tricolor during Yoga Day, Modi now violates flag code by signing on the tricolor.”
The twitter account, @TruthofGujarat, if managed by Pratik Sinha, son of iconic High Court lawyer Mukul Sinha, who was officially allowed to counter-question representations before the Nanavaty-Shah commission, which probed Gujarat riots. Sinha passed away last year after suffering from cancer.
Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt (@sanjivbhatt), a whistleblower who is known to be one of the sharpest critics of Modi, tweeted “Finally, Modi becomes the first PM to sign an Indian flag in contravention of the Flag Code of India.”
Rajiv Tyagi posted on the Facebook, “Modi is the first Prime Minister to sign an Indian flag in contravention of the Flag Code of India”, even as giving a shot of a Times of India tweet which said “@narendramodi autographed the national flag for President @POTUS to be handed over to him. #ModinUSA.”

Tyagi is an ex-serviceman with Indian Air Force. He, as also all those who have gone on viral on Facebook and Twitter, criticizing Modi, have reproduced the code which says that “lettering of any kind shall not be put on the Flag”.
A celebrity, Ramesh Shrivats (@rameshshrivats), who calls himself an “armchair thinker” and whose followers include Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan, tweeted, “PM Modi signs an Indian flag to be gifted to President Obama. Outrage. Opposition screams, "RESIGN, RESIGN." So, Modi signs again.”
Sanjay Hedge (@sanjayuvacha), who calls himself “lawyer and history buff”, tweeted, “Signing flag for Obama, wearing 10lakh signature suit for Obama, what black magic has Obama done for Modi to repeatedly do the unsuitable.”
The controversy broke out soom after ANI (@ANI_news) tweeted, “PM Modi autographed the Indian flag for President Obama to be handed over to him by renowned Chef Vikas Khanna” and released a photograph (pic.twitter.com/2ES9TZ6zXK).
Several journalists, covering Modi in the US, have suggested that it is a non-story, but online, there has been a lot of criticism. Aashish Mehta (@aashishSmehta) said, “Hon PM signs flag to be presented to US Pres by Chef Vikas Khanna & defies Flag code #PMSorryBolo@AamAadmiParty.”
However, top NDTV journalist Barkha Dutt (@barkhadutt), currently in the US, said, “Ridiculous Twitter controversy over PM signing flag for @TheVikasKhanna to gift to Obama. Officials have now taken flag away to check code.”

Comments

Gujarat Information Commission issues warning against misinterpretation of RTI orders

By A Representative The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) has issued a press note clarifying that its orders limiting the number of Right to Information (RTI) applications for certain individuals apply only to those specific applicants. The GIC has warned that it will take disciplinary action against any public officials who misinterpret these orders to deny information to other citizens. The press note, signed by GIC Secretary Jaideep Dwivedi, states that the Right to Information Act, 2005, is a powerful tool for promoting transparency and accountability in public administration. However, the commission has observed that some applicants are misusing the act by filing an excessive number of applications, which disproportionately consumes the time and resources of Public Information Officers (PIOs), First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and the commission itself. This misuse can cause delays for genuine applicants seeking justice. In response to this issue, and in acc...

On Teachers’ Day, remembering Mother Teresa as the teacher of compassion

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ It is Teachers’ Day once again! Significantly, the day also marks the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta (still lovingly called Mother Teresa). In 2012, the United Nations, as a fitting tribute to her, declared this day the International Day of Charity. A day pregnant with meaning—one that we must celebrate as meaningfully as possible.

Gujarat minority rights group seeks suspension of Botad police officials for brutal assault on minor

By A Representative A human rights group, the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat, has written to the Director General of Police (DGP), Gandhinagar, demanding the immediate suspension and criminal action against police personnel of Botad police station for allegedly brutally assaulting a minor boy from the Muslim community.

Targeted eviction of Bengali-speaking Muslims across Assam districts alleged

By A Representative A delegation led by prominent academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey visited three districts in Assam—Goalpara, Dhubri, and Lakhimpur—between 2 and 4 September 2025 to meet families affected by recent demolitions and evictions. The delegation reported widespread displacement of Bengali-speaking Muslim communities, many of whom possess valid citizenship documents including Aadhaar, voter ID, ration cards, PAN cards, and NRC certification.

Gandhiji quoted as saying his anti-untouchability view has little space for inter-dining with "lower" castes

By A Representative A senior activist close to Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar has defended top Booker prize winning novelist Arundhati Roy’s controversial utterance on Gandhiji that “his doctrine of nonviolence was based on an acceptance of the most brutal social hierarchy the world has ever known, the caste system.” Surprised at the police seeking video footage and transcript of Roy’s Mahatma Ayyankali memorial lecture at the Kerala University on July 17, Nandini K Oza in a recent blog quotes from available sources to “prove” that Gandhiji indeed believed in “removal of untouchability within the caste system.”

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

'Govts must walk the talk on gender equality, right to health, human rights to deliver SDGs by 2030'

By A Representative With just 64 months left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global health and rights advocates have called upon governments to honour their commitments on gender equality and the human right to health. Speaking ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), experts warned that rising anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are threatening hard-won progress on SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality).

Is U.S. fast losing its financial and technological edge under Trump’s second tenure?

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The United States, along with its Western European allies, once promoted globalization as a democratic force that would deliver shared prosperity and balanced growth. That promise has unraveled. Globalization, instead of building an even world, has produced one defined by inequality, asymmetry of power, and new vulnerabilities. For decades, Washington successfully turned this system to its advantage. Today, however, under Trump’s second administration, America is attempting to exploit the weaknesses of others without acknowledging how exposed it has become itself.

Bhojpuri cinema’s crisis: When popularity becomes an excuse for vulgarity

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Bhojpuri cinema is expanding rapidly. Songs from new films are eagerly awaited, and the industry is hailed for its booming business. Yet, big money and mass popularity do not automatically translate into quality cinema or meaningful content. The market has compelled us to celebrate numbers, even when what is being produced is deeply troubling.

Counterview

Search This Blog