Highlights
- Subhas Sarkar claimed that West Bengal govt officials made no arrangements to hoist tricolour.
- He also said that he was "not allowed" to hoist the tricolour at the correctional home.
Independence Day 2022: Union Minister Subhas Sarkar on Saturday claimed that West Bengal state government officials made no arrangements to hoist the national flag at the Midnapore Central Correctional Home he was scheduled to visit. He also said that he was "not allowed" to hoist the tricolour at the correctional home in Paschim Medinipur district, as part of the Centre's 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' initiative.
"When I stepped into the premises, I found no arrangements were made to hoist the national flag. It shows the West Bengal government's apathy and indifference towards the sacrifice of our heroes," he told reporters outside the jail compound on Saturday. The TMC said the allegation was ridiculous.
Sarkar, the Union minister of state for education, said he would not blame the correctional home authorities as they followed the directives of the state government and there was apparently no communication about the August 13 programme.
"Despite all official communication, including my telephonic talk with the chief secretary, I was not given permission to celebrate the event and pay my tributes to the martyrs of West Bengal at the Midnapore Central Jail," he posted on Facebook.
'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' is being celebrated to mark the 75 years of Independence. TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said that Sarkar created the controversy to show the state government in poor light as everywhere in the state, arrangements are made to hoist the tricolour.
"We should not learn about patriotism or how to show respect to the country's freedom fighters from the BJP," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)
