Pioneer News Service n New Delhi
Opposition leaders took a dig at Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah for appearing to turn down an offer to wave the national flag after India beat Pakistan in a cricket match at the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday. The video footage has sparked a controversy with Congress, TMC Shiv Sena and others criticizing Jay, son of Home Minister Amit Shah.
Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said. "Staying neutral as ACC (Asian Cricket Council) president doesn't at any point mean being disrespectful to any nation's flag, especially your own....". Chaturvedi said the Tricolour in hand is a symbol of the resolve and loyalty of Indians to the nation and to "dismiss it in this way is an insult to the country's 133 crore population".
Several Congress leaders slammed Jay Shah, who is Union Home Minister Amit Shah's son. Tagging the video footage of the BCCI appearing to turn down an offer to wave the flag, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted in Hindi: "I have papa, keep the Tricolour with you."
Congress leader Ajoy Kumar also tweeted the footage and wrote in Hindi: "Looks like the tricolour was of 'Khadi'... Not of 'polyester'!" Congress has been strongly criticising an amendment of the flag code under which the national flag can now be made of polyester and with the help of machines.
Commenting on the video, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said: "Dear Amit Shah, please tell the nation whether this act infuriates you? Whether the act hurts your nationalistic sentiments? Or, will this act be forgiven only because he's your son?" "We are not looking for excuses. We are looking for concrete answers. Sincerely, an angry Indian," he said.
TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale said the ruling BJP has argued that Jay Shah did not hold the Tricolour on Sunday night because he was there as the ACC president and was following protocol.