from Special Correspondent Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, Feb 7: Insult to Indian tri-coloured national flag on Brazilian float during Carnival parade in the capital city of Panaji has snowballed into a major controversy in the State with Bharatiya Janata Party demanding apology from the state government over the issue.
Brazilian float, which was participating for the first time in the parade, had the Indian tri colour flag installed on it upside down with green colour up.
The flag was later corrected when audience protested and brought the error to the notice of the organizers – Goa tourism development corporation, a state government-run establishment.
"Government should apologise for the gross negligence and the insult to the patriotic Goans. It is a blatant violation of flag code and insult to entire nation," BJP's Goa spokesman Govind Parvatkar demanded.
The float parade was organized on February 2 which was witnessed by over 50,000 crowd who thronged Panaji's Dayanand Bandodkar road.
Consulate General of Brazil had for the first time participated in the parade exhibiting a `friendship float' with the theme Brazilindia.
"We can understand ignorance of the Brazilians about our flag. But it was the responsibility of the screening committee to correct it at the initial point from where the floats were screened to begin," Parvatkar said.
GTDC had appointed a special screening committee, which had cleared the floats before being paraded on the street.
The BJP has also taken strong objection to GTDC lady staff dancing on the Brazilian float. "What was the government servant doing on the Brazilian float," the BJP spokesman questioned.
The GTDC, on the other hand, has admitted the error and said that it was unintentional. "When float started the flag was yet to be put up. We realized it later and the flag was installed properly," a GTDC official stated.
He said that since the float was a friendly one, Indian participation was anticipated on it. "There was nothing wrong in GTDC employee standing on the float," the official justified.