Jammu:A police complaint has been filed against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for allegedly dishonouring the national flag during a protest against the abrogation of Article 370 in Srinagar, even as the incident triggered a wider political controversy involving Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The complaint, submitted at Pacca Danga Police Station in Jammu by senior cardiologist and social activist Dr. Neeraj Sharma, seeks legal action against Mehbooba under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, including the registration of an FIR.
According to the complaint, videos and photographs from Tuesday night’s protest show Mehbooba holding the national flag upside down, with the saffron band facing downward.
Dr. Sharma alleged that the act amounted to disrespect towards the Tricolour and caused deep emotional hurt to nationalist citizens across the country. He urged the police to examine the matter and initiate legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
The controversy stems from a sit-in protest led by Mehbooba Mufti outside the PDP headquarters in Srinagar on Tuesday night against the Centre’s decision to revoke the special constitutional status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019.
During the protest, Mehbooba was seen holding both the national flag and the flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the national flag appeared to be inverted, triggering sharp criticism and calls for legal action.
Officials had earlier indicated that the authorities were examining the incident and considering appropriate legal action.
Under the Flag Code of India, the national flag must always be displayed with the saffron band at the top, followed by the white band carrying the navy blue Ashoka Chakra, and the green band at the bottom. Displaying the flag upside down or in any incorrect manner is considered a violation of the Flag Code.
Reacting to the controversy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he did not believe the incident was intentional.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to flood-affected Surankote in Poonch district on Wednesday, Abdullah said he could not accept that someone who had served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir would deliberately disrespect the national flag.
“You have to ask this question to her. I believe the incident involving the national flag must have been a mistake. I cannot accept that someone who has served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir would deliberately display the national flag upside down,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that if the Tricolour had indeed been held upside down inadvertently, the mistake should simply be acknowledged.
“I do not think it was done intentionally,” Abdullah said.
The controversy escalated further after Union Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh launched a sharp attack on Mehbooba Mufti over the protest.
Describing August 5 as a “historic day” comparable to Independence Day and Republic Day, Singh said the abrogation of Article 370 fulfilled the dreams of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and millions of Indians.
“This is a historic day for India… one that realised the dreams of Sardar Patel and the aspirations of countless Indians. Now, there is one nation, one flag, one Prime Minister, and one Constitution,” he said.
Targeting the former Chief Minister, Singh remarked, “Mehbooba Mufti is a terrorist. I said this because she sided with terrorists for so long; she spent a brief period with us, and we tried to set her on the right path, but when she didn’t change, we let her go.”
The remarks drew a strong response from PDP leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, who termed Singh’s comments “outrageous,” “irresponsible,” and beneath the dignity of a Union Minister.
In a post on X, Para said calling a former Chief Minister and senior Muslim woman leader a terrorist reflected prejudice and political intolerance.
“Giriraj Singh’s remarks calling PDP president Mehbooba Mufti a ‘terrorist’ are outrageous, irresponsible, and beneath the dignity of a Union Minister. Such language against a former Chief Minister of J&K and a senior Muslim woman leader reflects nothing but prejudice and political intolerance,” Para said.
He further asserted that the statement reflected Singh’s mindset rather than a political position.
“This is not a political statement; it is a reflection of Giriraj Singh’s own mindset,” Para added.
Earlier, lashing out at People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti over remarks concerning the national flag, BJP MP and Jammu and Kashmir BJP Chief Sat Sharma on Wednesday demanded strict legal action, calling the disrespect shown toward the Tricolour a “serious matter”.
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Sat Sharma stated, “Legal action should be taken. The government will decide on that. However, this question is also related to Mehbooba ji’s earlier statements regarding Article 370. She had once said that if Article 370 was removed, there would be no one left to shoulder the Tricolour.”
“Just imagine, how can we expect such people to respect the Tricolour? How can we expect them to honour the national flag? For them, it may not matter, but the disrespect shown toward the Tricolour is a serious matter. Whatever the appropriate legal course of action is, the authorities should take it,” the J&K BJP Chief added.
Meanwhile, the complaint against Mehbooba Mufti has brought the issue into the legal domain. The complainant has urged the Jammu Police to register an FIR after examining the available videos and photographs and to initiate action under the relevant provisions of law concerning the alleged insult to the national flag.
