Cong charges minister Jitendra Sukhadia of disrespecting tricolour

VADODARA: Trying to rake up a controversy, the district unit of the Congress party has submitted a memorandum to the district collector claiming that the minister of state for tourism Jitendra Sukhadia did not salute the national flag at the Independence Day celebrations at Dabhoi.
Sukhadia has, however, denied the allegation claiming that while he did not salute the flag throughout the time the national anthem was being played, he had done so immediately after the tricolour was unfurled and had then stood in attention.
The official celebrations of the Independence Day for the district were held at Dabhoi on Wednesday and Sukhadia had presided over the function. On Thursday morning, the Congressmen submitted a memorandum to the collector Vinod Rao saying that Sukhadia had not respected the national flag by saluting it after it was hoisted.
Sukhadia however said, "When the national anthem was played, I stood in attention after withdrawing the salute. I may have erred by not saluting the flag throughout the national anthem. But this in no way can be considered disrespect."
He further said that having realized that he may have erred he had talked to Rao regarding it during the function itself. "I told him that I would do so at the end of the ceremony if it was appropriate. So, at the end of the ceremony I stood saluting the flag throughout while the national anthem was being played the second time," he said.
Sukhadia even asked the information department to release these pictures to the media.