In a shocking incident which highlighted gross disregard for the country and its scared symbols, an inverted national flag was found hoisted at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch at Jogiwala Mafi on Republic day on Tuesday. The onlookers were aghast to see this utter disrespect for the Tricolour for which hundreds of martyrs laid down their lives. They tried to contact the bank officials, but the callous staff did nothing to correct the horrendous mistake as a result of which the flag kept on fluttering the whole day on top of the bank premises, making a mockery of the soul of the celebrations.
The bank is located in the main Haridwar road near Mokhampur railway crossing.
On Wednesday, this correspondent went to the bank, but found it closed. A message which mentioned that no public transaction is held in the bank on Wednesday was found hanging on the closed channel gate of the bank. The Deputy General Manager (DGM) of SBI could not be contacted for comment on the issue. However, the Chief Manager, General Banking Vivek Chandra Jaisawal refused to comment when quizzed. “I am not aware of the incident. I am also not authorised either to give any statement on the matter,’’ he said curtly when asked who was responsible for the incident.
local residents sounded anguished over the ignorance and callousness on the part of the bank employees. “ It is really shocking that such a mistake was committed and none among the staff members who are supposed to be highly qualified could have noticed the flag being hoisted in a wrong way. Interestingly, a carpenter who has no pretension to education pointed it out, but to avail,’’ said a retired government officer who resides in Jogiwala.
The Circle Officer (CO) of Police Dehradun city, Manoj Katyal said that the hoisting an inverted national flag amounts to a criminal offence and suitable action would be initiated if a complaint is lodged.