Flag can be kept hoisted overnight on August 13 & 14: Nagpur Division commissioner Radhakrishnan B

NAGPUR: In accordance with the amended rules of the Flag Code of India, authorities have allowed private citizens to keep the national flag hoisted overnight too as part of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. Earlier, rules stated that the tricolour was to be taken down at sunset by following the set protocols.
Radhakrishnan B, Nagpur divisional commissioner, said this permission comes with a fine print. “While you can keep it hoisted on August 13 and 14 night, citizens must remember to take it down on August 15 by following the laid down procedure. The flag has to be stored properly after that,” said Radhakrishnan.
The “Har Ghar Tiranga” is a national-level campaign which is part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahautsav’ in which citizens have been permitted to hoist the national flag at their private residence.
The Flag Code of India 2002 was amended last month with the new rule saying, “Where the flag is displayed in the open or the house of a member of public, it may be flown day and night”.
Radhakrishnan added that the government is ensuring availability of flags at very affordable rates. “We are selling the flags at no-loss, no-profit basis at the purchase price,” said Radhakrishnan.
“We are not forcing anyone to buy from a particular place. This sale is being faciliated to ensure that the huge demand for flags can be met,” said Radhakrishnan.
He also cited the reason for price variance from district to district as being a result of it being proccured from different sources. “In Nagpur city, two different sizes of the flag are being sold due to which rates vary. One is for Rs 14 and the other is for Rs 22. In the other parts of the district, it is for Rs 25. In Wardha it’s being sold at Rs 40, at Bhandra it’s Rs 30, in Chandrapur it’s Rs 25 while in Gadchiroli it’s Rs 20,” said Radhakrishnan.
In Nagpur division, almost 4,500 sales points have been set up of which 834 are in Nagpur district. “These include office buildings of NMC, ZP, gram panchayat etc,” said Radhakrishnan.
While talking about the 75th anniversary of Independence and various celebrations being planned, he said, “Once in our lifetime will we get to see such landmark events. Hence my expectation is that everybody should take part.”