Congress’ complaint regarding saffron flags and banners in the city is false, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said in a statement today regarding the complaint lodged with the Election Commission against the organisation. Suresh Upadhyay, in charge of the organisation in this region, said that saffron flags have nothing to do with politics. “The saffron flag is hoisted similarly every year on Ram Navami; Congress’s complaint is completely baseless and false,” he said.
Congress candidate Pratap Singh Khachariyavas had complained to the district administration and the Election Commission about the installation of saffron flags across the city. He alleged that such flags had been put up to create an atmosphere favourable to the ruling dispensation and hence they should be pulled down.
Opposing the complaint, Upadhyay said that VHP had not hoisted the saffron flag for party politics or to give political advantage to anyone. “Hindu society has been celebrating the festival of Navratri with great pomp for thousands of years. After the consecration of Lord Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on 22 January, the entire country is steeped in a Rama consciousness. On this occasion, Hindus hoist saffron flags in their establishments, markets and homes, which has been a symbol of Hindu society for thousands of years. Ram Navami brings out special enthusiasm in Hindus,” he said.
Upadhyay said, “As someone in charge of the organisation in the area, I want to place it on record that the VHP has not put up these saffron flags. All the saffron flags that are visible across the country today have been put up by the Hindu society as their symbols which have nothing to do with politics.”
According to Upadhyay, it is unfortunate that “some political people in our country are irritated by Sanatan culture, Hindu religion and saffron flag”. He said that people with an anti-Hindu mentality should understand that politics has its place but “we request them not to hurt the Hindu society”. The VHP has urged the Election Commission to not pay heed to the Congress plea to pull down the saffron flags, “otherwise, the sentiments of the Hindu people will be hurt”. Upadhyay wished for 100% voting in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 with a healthy mind as a demonstration of Indian democracy.
