New Delhi: The opposition has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempt to fill up his social media profile with the national flag has not impressed his party’s ideologue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Modi this week urged social media users to change their display profiles to the tricolour, to mark the 75th year of independence. Along with the official Twitter handle of the party, several leaders also followed ‘to mark’.tricolor in every house‘ initiative.
But the RSS did not comply with the Prime Minister’s request – neither did the organization’s official Twitter. handle Nor have several senior leaders of the Sangh, including Pramukh Mohan Bhagwat and Dattatreya Hosabale, hoisted the flag. The Facebook page of RSS is also not showing it.
ThePrint contacted the RSS for a reply, and while there was no official response, a senior official said: “We do not take any decision under pressure from anyone. If the display pic of our official Twitter handle has to be changed, it will happen when the time comes.”
However, he pointed out that some leaders have already changed their performance photos. These included joint general secretaries Manmohan Vaidya, Arun Kumar and campaign chief Sunil Ambekar.
Read also: Every home tricolor is a good idea, but not every Indian has the means to follow the flag code
Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a screenshot of the profile photo of the RSS and its chief Mohan Bhagwat on Twitter with a cryptic message: “Sangh walones, ab toh tricolor ko apna lo (Sangh people, at least now adopt the tricolor) )”.
Sangh, now adopt the tricolor #my tirangamaipride https://t.co/mYQPiuAB58 pic.twitter.com/TMVcpfu3eA
— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) 3 August 2022
Senior Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh said: “We are holding the DP of our leader (Jawaharlal) Nehru with the tricolor in our hands. But it seems the Prime Minister’s message did not reach his family. Those who did not hoist the flag at their headquarters in Nagpur for 52 years, will they obey the Prime Minister?
To keep healthy DP is Deepawali. But till 52 o’clock updated the flag in their broadcast, what would they say? #my tirangamaipride https://t.co/JOiTkYC9cY
— jairam ramesh (@jairam_ramesh) 3 August 2022
RSS has a custom of hoisting its own flag instead of the tricolor hoisted It was at its headquarters on August 15, 1947, January 26, 1950 and last in 2002.
Not only Congress leaders, but Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also slammed the RSS and BJP for ignoring the importance of the Indian flag for decades.
“For 52 years the #RSS did not accept the Indian flag, and did not fly the Indian flag until 2002. And now, RSS and BJP are giving lectures to us tricolor in every housePatriotism and Nationalism! #ShameOnBJP,” tweeted TRS social media convener and Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation chairman Y Satheesh Reddy.
for 52 years #RSS Did not accept the Indian flag, and did not fly the Indian flag until 2002.
And now, the RSS and BJP are giving us lectures on the tricolor, patriotism and nationalism at every home! #ShameOnBJP pic.twitter.com/fHdZqLP30y
— YSR (@ysathishreddy) 2 August 2022
The BJP, on the other hand, hit out at the opposition for ‘not participating’.tricolorA bike rally was organized on Wednesday to pay tribute to the freedom fighters.nectar festival of freedom‘ Program.
The rally started from Delhi’s Red Fort and was attended by several BJP ministers and MPs.
Amit Malviya, national convener of the party’s IT cell, said: “This morning, MPs took out a tricolor bike rally from the historic Red Fort. The Vice President flagged off the rally but none of the opposition MPs chose to participate. Is this a clear admission that the BJP is the sole custodian of the tricolour, which is a symbol of our national pride?”
during your monthly ‘mind matter‘ Radio broadcasting, Modi had pointed out how the tricolor initiative would particularly enhance the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebration that was underway to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.
Following Modi’s signal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked citizens to put up the national flag as their profile photo on social media accounts between August 2 and 15. He supported the campaign.tricolor in every house‘ by changing your Twitter display picture.
Notably, Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh among others have changed their display picture – in an image where India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is holding the national flag.
Read also: Amit Shah calls upon people to participate in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ program